Pope Francis has told members of the Vatican’s security force to intervene with people they find gossiping and backstabbing. On September 27, the Pope celebrated Mass for the Vatican’s security personnel. In addition to the more colourful Swiss Guard, the Vatican’s other security body is its own police force, the gendarme corps. The corps of Read more
The Church of England has removed all reference to the devil from the wording of its official Baptism liturgy. New wording approved by the church’s General Synod asks whether parents and godparents will “turn away from sin” and “reject evil”. In the traditional service, the request was to “reject the devil and all rebellion against Read more
The Archbishop of Wellington, John Dew, has responded to yet another wave of the media’s perennial fascination with exorcists and exorcism by saying Wellington does not have an appointed exorcist, and as far as he knew, the Wellington Catholic Archdiocese had never needed one. Exorcisms in New Zealand are rare, but they do happen – and Read more
In Tonga, the ancient ritual of “Uiui Tevolo” which means “calling up the dead” or more literally “calling up the devil”, has been regarded as something of pagan origin unacceptable to churches and Christians in general. However, in recent weeks there has been a sort of revival of this ancient ritual among some villagers in Read more
“I never thought I’d end up doing this, no,” admits the middle-aged priest whose unexpected path to becoming an exorcist began while saying one of his first Masses after he was ordained 15 years ago. “At the moment of consecration of the precious blood I asked the Lord to shower his blood upon the youth and Read more
For many Catholics, the Devil has faded from view, apart from when he is referred to during the making and renewal of baptismal vows. Many were surprised when the Pope recently referred to ‘the enemy’ in a speech. So what happened to Satan and all his works? Pope Benedict was recently rebuked in the liberal Read more