Becoming an Exorcist Today: Training, Accreditation and the Pope Leo XIII Institute

Introduction — Why formation, authority and ethics matter

The ministry of exorcism occupies a precise and sensitive place within contemporary pastoral practice. It combines liturgical action, spiritual discernment, pastoral care and clinical caution. For clergy and diocesan leaders, clear formation pathways, canonical authorization and ethical safeguards are essential to protect the faithful and to ensure the Church’s rites are used correctly and pastorally.

In Catholic practice a major or "solemn" exorcism may only be carried out with the express permission of the local ordinary (the diocesan bishop); this canonical framework underpins who may be appointed and why formal formation is required.

Likewise, the Roman rite governing exorcisms (De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam) reinforces that these rites are to be used only under the proper jurisdictional authority and after careful prior medical and psychological assessment.

Pathways to formation: canonical appointment, apprenticeship and formal programs

There are three common formation pathways today:

• Diocesan appointment and apprenticeship — Historically many exorcists learned via apprenticeship under an experienced exorcist, working case-by-case under a bishop’s direction.
• Diocesan-led programs — Some dioceses create protocols and in-service training for priests and teams to respond to alleged cases responsibly.
• Specialized institutes and courses — Several independent and diocesan-affiliated programs now offer multi-disciplinary formation combining theology, liturgy, pastoral care and clinical collaboration.

All pathways emphasize the same essentials: sound prayer life, theological formation, psychological literacy, pastoral prudence, and obedience to the diocesan bishop. Formal programs supplement apprenticeship by offering structured curricula, practicum experiences, and multi-disciplinary input from psychiatrists, physicians and canonists.

The Pope Leo XIII Institute: mission, curriculum and role

The Pope Leo XIII Institute is a private, non-profit institute offering residential and module-based formation in the ministry of exorcism, deliverance and spiritual healing for clergy (and supported laity/deacons in some offerings). The Institute describes itself as independent (operating on private support), focused on priestly spiritual formation, and committed to integrating theological, pastoral and clinical perspectives.

Program structure: the Institute’s course model is modular and intensive; its curriculum is sequenced over modules (described by the Institute as a multi-module course spanning an extended formation period) and includes classroom work, prayer, liturgy, case studies and practicum experiences designed for clergy who will serve in this ministry.

Ethics, collaboration and standards: the Institute — and other reputable programs — explicitly encourage collaboration with mental-health professionals, canonical counsel and diocesan oversight. Good formation centers on discerning between psychiatric/neurological illness and potential spiritual affliction, establishing aftercare and avoiding sensationalism.

Practical implications for bishops, priests and candidates

• Appointment: Bishops should only appoint priests who demonstrate piety, prudence, theological competence and pastoral maturity; canonical norms and local protocols must be followed.
• Assessment: Cases should be carefully triaged with medical and psychiatric evaluation before any liturgical action.
• Formation: Candidates benefit from both supervised apprenticeship and structured programs that include theological, liturgical and clinical content.
• Accountability: Exorcists should operate within diocesan teams, with documented protocols for authorization, record-keeping, and safeguarding.

Conclusion — Becoming a competent exorcist today is not a single certification but a combination of canonical mandate, sustained spiritual formation, supervised practical experience, and ongoing professional and clinical collaboration. Institutes like the Pope Leo XIII Institute provide one model of structured formation; however, final authority and appointment remain a bishop’s prerogative and responsibility.