Gabriele Amorth

Gabriele Amorth ( born May 1, 1925 in Modena ) is an Italian Roman Catholic priest and exorcist.

Life

Amorth participated as a captain in World War II and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Then he helped build the Christian Democratic Party of Italy with.

In 1947 he became a Doctor of Law and joined the Society of St.. Apostle Paul in, in which he was ordained a priest ten years later. Gabriele Amorth then worked as a journalist and was editor of the Marian monthly Madre di Dio.

In 1986 he was appointed exorcist of the Diocese of Rome. In numerous books and articles and interviews in newspapers, radio and television Gabriele Amorth is strength for greater attention to the topic of exorcism. On his initiative, the number of Italian exorcists rose to over three hundred. 1994 Amorth was elected president of the International Association of Exorcists.

Work and views as an exorcist

Gabriele Amorth cites biblical texts such as Lk 9.1 EU in order to demonstrate the real and not just symbolic existence of demons and the job of Christians to cast out the same. He emphasizes the difference between Christian exorcists or deliverance prayers and magical or pagan practices. As a frequent cause of obsession he calls the preoccupation with the occult through commuting, necromancy or card readings as well as the prospect of soothsayers and magicians, in which he expressly does not distinguish between "white " and " black " magic, but both dangerous, because not of divine origin, considered.

Amorth castigates in his books to even among priests today often lack of belief in the real existence of Satan and demons. " Those who do not believe in the devil, does not believe in the Gospel" ( quote from Pope John Paul II ). Amorth laments how the Roman Catholic Church, the people affected by obsession today let down. At the same time, he emphasizes that the exorcism represents only ten percent of the effect and 90 percent should the person work through a vibrant life of faith itself.

Gabriele Amorth to his exorcist operations in January 2008 compared to the Vatican magazine:

" I tell all, they should first ask the doctors and psychologist for advice. Because in most cases, there are psychological or physical causes, natural causes such as schizophrenia, hysteria [ ... ] The psychiatrist says, whether it is a symptom of a disease. "

He claimed the beginning of 2010, to have been carried out about 70,000 successful exorcisms.

The Indian guru Sai Baba held Amorth for " the firstborn of Satan ." He also gave both the practice of yoga as well as the reading of the Harry Potter novels for satanic.

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Amorth thanked the outgoing head of the church. In an audience with Pope Benedict XVI did. Received " exorcists from around the world " and them " great encouragement " given that he had " given effective prayers for exorcism ." And prior to his election as pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Catholic Church reformed so that " the front in the battle against Satan " had been strengthened.

The current Pope Francis Amorth warned of an attack on his life: With its commitment to a " low church," he would, like his deceased under mysterious circumstances predecessor, John Paul I, challenge the Freemasons.

Publications (selection)

• An exorcist tells. ( Original title:. Un esorcista Racconta translated by Mary of Camminetz ), 5th Edition. Christiana, Stein am Rhein, 2006, ISBN 3-7171-1045-4. ( German edition at Kral, Abensberg 1993, ISBN 3-87442-045-0 ).
• New reports of an exorcist. ( Original title: Nuovi racconti di un esorcista translated by Franz Müller. ), Christiana, Stein am Rhein, 2008, ISBN 978-3-7171-1067-5.
• Exorcists and psychiatrists. ( Original title:. Esorcisti e psichiatri translated by Reinhold Ortner and Ortner Maria ) Christiana, Stein am Rhein, 2002, ISBN 3-7171-1092-6 ( Appendix: The new Roman rituals about exorcism ).
• Padre Pio. Life story of a saint. ( Original title: Padre Pio - Breve storia di un Santo, translated by Franz Müller), 3rd edition. Christiana, Stein am Rhein 2008 ( German edition 2002), ISBN 978-3-7171-1108-5.
• Memoirs of a Exorcist: My battle against Satan. Gabriele Amorth in conversation with Marco Tosatti. ( Original title:. Memorie di un Esorcista translated by Carl Franz Müller), Christiana, Stein am Rhein, 2013, ISBN 978-3-7171-1227-3.