Demand for exorcists at a record high — but this demon hunter doesn’t blame the devil for the trend
The demand for exorcisms in the United States has reached unprecedented levels, according to a leading Catholic priest who specializes in spiritual warfare. Father Chad Ripperger, part of the Archdiocese of Denver, says the surge is less about an increase in demonic activity and more about human choices.
“People today increasingly ignore the Church’s guidance and give in to their own darker impulses,” Ripperger explained. “When individuals participate in acts of evil, whether through Satanism, witchcraft, or other harmful behaviors, they become vulnerable to Satan’s influence, which can push them further into wrongdoing.”
During an exorcism, priests use holy water, a crucifix, and passages from the Bible to command demons to leave. Some cases may require the individual to be physically restrained, as the presence of the priest can provoke the entity. Ripperger noted that the extreme portrayals in movies account for only a small fraction—about 10%—of actual exorcisms.
The 1973 film The Exorcist famously depicted one of these dramatic confrontations, with a girl named Regan MacNeil exhibiting violent, supernatural behaviors. While that level of spectacle is rare, it shaped public perception of what possession looks like.
Currently, around 150 priests in the U.S. are trained to perform exorcisms—a dramatic rise from just 20 in 2020, marking an increase of 650%. This growth is in response to families reporting disturbing, seemingly inexplicable behavior.
Earlier this month, on March 13, Pope Leo XIV met with the world’s top exorcists at the Vatican. They alerted him to a rising global trend in occult practices, esotericism, and Satanism, urging that every diocese should have at least one trained exorcist available.
Other priests engaged in this work are noticing similar trends. Rev. Vincent Lampert, exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, reported handling roughly 1,700 cases in 2018 alone. Monsignor Stephen Rosetti, based in Washington, DC, and an expert in both psychological and spiritual health, has also seen an uptick.
A recent survey by CNN, which contacted all 196 U.S. Catholic dioceses and archdioceses, found that among the 48 that responded, over half reported an increase in requests for exorcisms. Rev. Dan Todd, an exorcist at Our Lady of Divine Mercy Anglican Church in New Jersey, cautioned that while evil exists, most cases—about 99%—are linked to psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia or dissociative identity disorder.
Exorcists identify several signs that may indicate demonic possession, including:
- Speaking languages without prior study, particularly ancient ones like Latin, Hebrew, or Greek.
- Displaying knowledge of private or unknown information.
- Superhuman strength.
- Psychological manipulation, attempting to disturb the exorcist.
- Extreme reactions to religious symbols.
- Sudden rage, obscene gestures, or profane language.
- Hallucinations, obsessive thoughts, or suicidal ideation.
Exorcists also emphasize preventive measures: prayer, fasting, attending church and receiving communion, Bible study, confession and repentance, avoiding those who commit evil, and invoking the protection of one’s Guardian Angel. Todd explained, “Confession is the most effective way to safeguard the soul. Even during an exorcism, confessing sins can cause the demon to leave.”
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