Exorcism conference underway in Rome

(ANSA) - Vatican City, May 7 - Catholic prelates from 33 countries are in Italy for the ninth annual conference on exorcism. 'Exorcism and Prayer for Liberation' is on through May 10 and is expected to draw 200 participants from countries as far afield as Australia and South Korea. Events are spread between Rome and Bologna. "It's devoted mostly to priests who are the first to learn the ministry of exorcism, but not only to them," said Father Cesare Truqui, an exorcist from the Legionaries of Christ, which is organizing the conference together with Catholic organization GRIS. "A priest is usually side by side with a group of laypeople who help," he told Vatican Radio.
    "They can include psychologists, psychiatrists or doctors, but also regular people like professionals and housekeepers, even during preliminary consultations to see if it's indeed a case of possession or not". "Exploring the theme of demonic possession does not mean causing general paranoia, but to creating awareness of the existence of the devil and of the possibility of possession...You can fight it with God, with prayer, with Marian devotion".
    Truqui noted that Pope Francis in his April 11 homily admonished the faithful to "learn to fight the devil...who exists even in the 21st century". "The pope reminds us," added the exorcist, "that speaking of demons doesn't mean creating a new theology outside the Gospels, but rather staying within Jesus Christ's teachings". Last May, many wondered if Francis had performed what appeared to be an exorcism in St Peter's Square on Pentecost Sunday, after the pontiff placed his hands on a man's head and recited a prayer.
    The Vatican denied the pope "intended to perform an exorcism". http://popefrancisnewsapp.com/