A few steps from the Sanctuary of Fátima, figures without official recognition from the Church conduct alleged exorcism sessions that attract vulnerable believers and leave Catholic authorities alarmed.
A woman closes her eyes as a young man dressed as a priest places both hands on her forehead. Moments later, he falls to the ground in front of dozens of faithful.
to dinner does not take place in a churchbut in the basement of a small shopping center, a few minutes walk from the large grounds of the Sanctuary of Fátima, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the Catholic Church.
The meeting was part of a series of supposed monthly “exorcism retreats” held in Fátima, which have sparked concern among Catholic authorities.
The Church maintains that these sessions take place outside of any official supervision and are led by self-proclaimed religious figureswhich may be exploring vulnerable believers.
On a recent Saturday, more than 100 people waited for the moment when Francisco Marques27 years old, would begin to lay hands on the participants, one by one.
Dressed in a black cassock and Roman collar, Marques presents himself with the image of a traditional catholic cleric. But neither the Vatican nor local Church authorities recognize his ministry, founded in 2006.
Marques placed both hands on the forehead of the participantsconcentrating in silence. Some, especially women, immediately fell backsupported by assistants who were behind them, before being laid down on rugs spread across the floor.
“You are left with a great feeling of peace. It’s a liberation. I leave here purified, with a lighter soul,” she told AFP Lourdes Ramisioa 56-year-old nurse, during the retreat.
“I feel like he has a power. His hands give me power,” he added.
“Cast out demons”
The sessions are organized by Marques and members of his family, with the support of Salvatore Micalefan Italian who introduces himself as his bishop.
“When I met Francisco, I saw, above all, that he had the gift of casting out demons. I issued a decree authorizing him to be an exorcistMicalef told AFP.
Exorcism is an ancient practice that consists of cast out demons or evil spirits from a person or place believed to be be possessed. It is practiced by some Roman Catholics, but viewed with deep skepticism by others.
Although it is a practice officially recognized by Catholicismo, is subject to strict rules and reserved for specially authorized parents.
Church officials say cases of alleged demonic possession are treated with caution and often involve consultations with medical specialists to ensure that people with illnesses such as epilepsy They do not go untreated because their symptoms are wrongly attributed to the supernatural.
The Bishop of Leiria-Fátima, Jose Ornelastold AFP that the Church treats the issue “with great caution”, to avoid creating the idea that priests are “gurus” with special powers over demons.
In 2023, his diocese warned of what it classified as “suspicious retreats” organized by “a supposed seminarian friend of the Pope”.
Holy water and “exorcised” salt
Ornelas says that although the Church does not have the legal authority to prohibit these types of meetings, you have the responsibility to report “abuse” committed by those who “exploit” people’s suffering for their own benefit.
Francisco Marques says he is the victim of a campaign against him and filed a defamation complaint against Church officials. “We were slandered. They called us false priests, false bishops, fraudsters. We have to defend our dignity”, he stated.
In addition to the monthly retreats in Fátima, Marques holds services every Sunday in a private chapel in your residencein a village located about 100 kilometers north of the sanctuary city.
Marques guarantees that participation in exorcism sessions it’s freealthough I recognize that the Donations from the faithful help finance activities.
Visitors are also encouraged to buy items such as “exorcised” saltholy water and anointing oils prepared by Marques.
The products are displayed on a table, along with business cards that display a photo of you with Pope Francis, a phone number, and a bank account number for donations.
