Pope Benedict XVI Warmly Greets Exorcist Convention

Yes, even exorcists have national conventions and evidently one is taking place in Italy now - though in an undisclosed location, for privacy reasons. Pope Benedict XVI seems to appreciate what the exorcists do, welcoming them by saying they should "carry on their important work in the service of the Church."

Reuters reports:

In 1999, the Vatican issued its first updated ritual for exorcism since 1614 and warned that the devil is still at work. The official Roman Catholic exorcism starts with prayers, a blessing and sprinkling of holy water, the laying on of hands on the possessed, and the making of the sign of the cross.

It ends with an “imperative formula” in which the devil is ordered to leave the possessed. The formula begins: “I order you, Satan...” It goes on to denounce Satan as “prince of the world” and “enemy of human salvation.” It ends: “Go back, Satan.”

A Vatican university announced last Thursday that for the second year running it will hold a course on exorcism and Satanism for Roman Catholic priests. ... The four-month course, which begins in October, is what the university calls inter-disciplinary. It includes medical, psychological and religious aspects of Satanism and exorcism.

I’ll bet that none of the disciplines involved engage in any critical or skeptical reflection on the notion of demon possession, though. I’m sure that would just be asking too much of the church.

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