On the 100th anniversary of his birth, Father Gabriele Amorth was remembered as “the most famous exorcist of the 20th century,” according to Father Marcello Lanza of the International Association of Exorcists (IAE). The Italian priest, who knew Father Amorth personally, honored the late exorcist in an article published by the IAE, praising his courage to speak openly about the devil, even when it invited ridicule. Lanza emphasized, “Don Amorth was the most famous exorcist of the 20th century because, with his great love for the ‘poorest of the poor,’ he was not afraid of attracting negative preconceptions by communicating to the entire world the suffering that many believers were experiencing due to extraordinary diabolical phenomena.”
At a time when many theologians were dismissing the existence of Satan as metaphor, Amorth re-centered the reality of spiritual warfare in Catholic theology. As Lanza noted, “one of his main warnings was to point out the presence of Satan behind the seemingly harmless phenomenon of magic.” His warnings extended to dangers he believed were hidden in astrology, spiritualism, black masses, and the use of Ouija boards—practices he said expose souls to demonic influence.
His mission was rooted in charity. Lanza explained that Amorth’s boldness came from “love for humanity,” adding that “his writing apostolate, dedicated to demonology and practice of exorcism, was based solely on the profound charity he felt toward Satan’s victims, both baptized and unbaptized.” What made him different was not just his knowledge or his countless exorcisms—estimated in the tens of thousands—but his mystical spirituality. “What made him famous,” said Lanza, “was his mystical life, through which he reminded the world that those being exorcised needed the love of the Church.”
Born on May 1, 1925, in Modena, Italy, Amorth discerned his vocation at just 12 years old. Though he initially sought to join the Passionists, he was welcomed instead by the Society of St. Paul, where he was ordained in 1954. His ministry included chaplaincy at Rome’s Regina Caeli prison and formation work for young religious. But it was in 1986, when Cardinal Ugo Poletti appointed him chief exorcist of the Diocese of Rome, that his life’s mission took full shape. He went on to found the International Association of Exorcists in 1990 and served as its president until retirement.
Amorth’s legacy, however, is more than his titles. Lanza recalled how Amorth “helped those exorcised to free themselves from many cursed objects expelled during the liturgical action of the exorcisms, restoring them to peace and serenity.” In his own words, Amorth once said that choosing Christ entails “a great spiritual battle. Because by choosing Christ, the devil is unleashed,” as quoted in his 2013 book The Sign of the Exorcist.
He passed away in 2016 at the age of 91, but his mission continues. Lanza concluded his tribute with deep gratitude: “Thank you, Father Amorth, for having reminded the Church and theologians that the mystery of redemption is, above all, liberation from Satan, the enemy of God and humanity.” For those who may scoff at the idea of exorcism or underestimate the devil’s work, Amorth’s life stands as a bold reminder: evil is real, but so is the triumph of Christ.
