While there are many horror classics have already been made worldwide including The Conjuring Universe, Insidious Universe, and Annabelle Universe, what has always fascinated fans is the true story. Now, Hollywood veteran actor Russel Crowe starrer The Pope’s Exorcist is taking the concept of a classic horror movie to new heights. The Pope’s Exorcist has been winnings the hearts or lets say sending chills down the spine among the fans whoever are opting it to watch. For the unversed, The Pope’s Exorcist is a true story written by Michael Petroni and Evan Spiliotopoulos, from a story by Petroni, Chester Hastings, and R. Dean McCreary. Which in turn is based on two books by Amorth himself – An Exorcist Tells His Story, and An Exorcist: More Stories. It was released on April 7, 2023, however, it is still the talk of the town in many countries including the USA and India. Talking about its star cast, The Pope’s Exorcist protagonist is Russell Crowe who plays Father Gabriele Amorth. Apart from him, Daniel Zovatto As Father Esquibel, Alex Essoe As Julia, Franco Nero As The Pope, and more in supporting roles. Assuming you have landed on this page, you have already watched the horror movie in theaters and want to know about The Pope’s Exorcist true story and also about real Father Gabriele Amorth. To know the answer continue reading below-
Is The Pope’s Exorcist a true story?
The answer is a big yes. The Pope’s Exorcist is based on a true story. Father Amorth existed, performed exorcisms, and worked for the Vatican. The movie even makes a tribute to Amorth during the end credits. (Spoilers ahead) At the very end of the credits, before the screen goes black, we get a photo of the priest, in which he is sticking his tongue out at the camera. Underneath, it says “Father Gabriele Amorth, 1925-2016.”
Who is the real Father Gabriele Amorth?
Father Amorth was born Gabriele Amorth in Modena, Italy, in 1925. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1954, and appointed an exorcist of the Diocese of Rome in 1986. In 2000, he was quoted by The Sunday Telegraph in which he had revealed that he performed approx 50,000 exorcisms in his lifespan. "I have performed over 50,000 exorcisms. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, sometimes many hours. It is hard work… There are many grades of possession. The Devil does not like to be seen, so there are people who are possessed who manage to conceal it. There are other cases where the person possessed is in acute physical pain, such agony that they cannot move,” real Father Amorth had said.
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"I have people come to me who are not possessed at all. They are suffering from epilepsy or schizophrenia or other mental problems. Of the thousands of patients I have seen, only a hundred or so have been truly possessed.” It is pertinent to mention to mention here that Amorth founded the International Association of Exorcists in 1990 and was its president until 2000. By 2013, he stated the number of exorcisms he performed had risen to 160,000.
Amorth wrote two memoirs of his time as an exorcist - An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories. The books include references to official Roman Catholic teachings on demonology while the main emphasis is on Amorth's experience as an exorcist. Both include references to the diagnosis and treatment of spiritual problems. The books briefly cover the topics of demonic contraction and curses. He states, "A curse can originate from such things as maledictions by close relatives, a habit of blaspheming, membership in Freemasonry, spiritic or magic practices, and so on."
Amorth died at the age of 91 on 16 September 2016, a short time after he was hospitalised for pulmonary complications.
With weekends already here, for movie watchers who are interested to watch a horror movie in the theater or content based on real life, then The Pope’s Exorcist is a perfect choice.