As public fascination with unidentified flying objects continues to grow following recent government disclosures, a prominent Catholic exorcist is urging believers to view the phenomenon through a spiritual lens rather than a purely extraterrestrial one.
Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, chief exorcist for the Archdiocese of Washington and president of the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, recently addressed the topic in a video discussion, arguing that many reported UFO encounters may actually be manifestations of demonic activity.
According to Rossetti, while the possibility of extraterrestrial life cannot be ruled out entirely, he personally remains unconvinced that aliens exist. Instead, he believes many unexplained aerial phenomena may have a spiritual origin.
“There’s no question in my mind personally … it’s my personal belief that probably many, if not most of these UFO sightings are in fact demons,” Rossetti said, according to remarks reported by LifeSiteNews.
The exorcist suggested that some characteristics commonly associated with UFO sightings—such as extraordinary speed, sudden changes in direction, and seemingly impossible maneuvers—are consistent with powers traditionally attributed to fallen angels rather than advanced civilizations from other worlds.
Rossetti warned that Christians should be cautious about embracing theories involving extraterrestrial visitors because, he said, “demons like to hide.” He added that evil spirits often conceal their true nature in order to influence people more effectively.
“They don’t want us to know who they are” or what they’re doing, Rossetti said, according to LifeSiteNews, because “they’re more effective when we don’t realize it.”
Drawing on Catholic teaching regarding spiritual warfare, Rossetti emphasized that believers should remain focused on the reality of the battle between good and evil. He cited St. Paul’s warning in Ephesians that Christians struggle not merely against earthly forces but against spiritual powers of darkness.
“The fight we have in this world, the spiritual battle, is with the evil one,” Rossetti stated.
The priest also noted that the Church’s ministry of exorcism frequently encounters reports of unusual manifestations. According to Rossetti, individuals suffering from demonic oppression or possession have reported seeing dark shadows, mysterious lights, and other frightening apparitions.
“Many people who are possessed will see indistinct dark shadows, possessed houses, globes of light, all sorts of things and more direct manifestations of evil hands … and actually images of beastlike creatures,” he said.
Rossetti further recounted an incident involving a person he described as possessing a documented spiritual gift. After being shown a photograph identified as a UFO, the woman reportedly responded, “It’s a demon.”
The exorcist stressed that discerning the source of such phenomena is important because evil spirits seek to influence human behavior while remaining hidden.
“The reason all of this is important is because they will try to manipulate us behind the scenes,” Rossetti said, according to LifeSiteNews.
As an example of spiritual deception, Rossetti described a woman who believed she was communicating with her deceased grandmother through automatic writing. While the messages initially appeared comforting and affectionate, they eventually became disturbing and hostile, leading her to conclude that the source was not her grandmother but a demonic presence.
Rossetti’s comments echo concerns raised by Catholic philosopher Daniel O’Connor, who has publicly argued that UFO phenomena may be part of a broader spiritual deception. According to LifeSiteNews, O’Connor has warned that society is increasingly being conditioned to accept the idea of extraterrestrial visitors and could one day be presented with a counterfeit message claiming heavenly authority while contradicting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
O’Connor has pointed to St. Paul’s warning in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 regarding “pretended signs and wonders” and a future “strong delusion” that leads many to believe falsehoods. He believes these biblical passages may help Catholics understand the possibility of a large-scale deception involving alleged alien encounters.
While the Church has not definitively taught that UFO phenomena are demonic, Rossetti’s remarks serve as a reminder that Catholics are called to approach extraordinary claims with spiritual discernment, grounding themselves in prayer, Scripture, and the teachings of the Church rather than being captivated by sensational explanations.
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