Exorcism Boom Shocks Church as Priest Reveals the Real Reason Behind Rising ‘Possession’ Cases

Something strange is happening—and it’s not just in horror movies.

Across the United States, demand for exorcists is exploding to levels the Catholic Church hasn’t seen in decades. But according to one of the country’s leading demon experts, the real cause might be far less supernatural than people think.

Father Chad Ripperger, a Catholic priest based in Denver, says the surge isn’t because demons are suddenly multiplying—it’s because people are.

“The demons are empowered as more and more people commit evil deeds,” he explained, pointing the finger squarely at human behavior. According to Ripperger, dabbling in things like witchcraft or dark practices can open the door to something far more dangerous.

And here’s the jaw-dropping part: the number of trained exorcists in the U.S. has skyrocketed by an estimated 650% since 2020. What used to be a rare specialty—just about 20 priests nationwide—has grown to roughly 150 today.

The Vatican is paying attention.

Earlier this month, Pope Leo XIV reportedly met with top exorcists from around the world as concerns mount over what they describe as a global rise in “occultism, esotericism, and Satanism.” Some church leaders are now pushing for every diocese worldwide to have at least one trained exorcist on standby.

Still, not everyone in the church is convinced demons are the main culprit.

Rev. Dan Todd, an exorcist based in New Jersey, says most cases aren’t what they seem. “About 99% of cases are due to mental illness,” he revealed, noting that conditions like schizophrenia or dissociative identity disorder can closely mimic what people believe is possession.

That hasn’t stopped desperate families from flooding churches with calls for help.

Back in 2018, one priest alone reported receiving over 1,700 requests. More recently, a survey of U.S. dioceses found that more than half are seeing an increase in people seeking exorcisms.

So what actually happens during one?

Forget what you saw in The Exorcist. While Hollywood made levitation, head-spinning, and eerie voices iconic, experts say only about 10% of real cases are that dramatic. Most involve intense prayer sessions, scripture readings, and the use of religious symbols like crucifixes and holy water.

Still, some reported signs of possession are chilling: sudden violent outbursts, speaking unknown languages, extreme strength, and a deep aversion to anything religious.

Whether spiritual or psychological, the line between the two is often blurred—and that’s what makes this surge so unsettling.

For those worried about crossing into dangerous territory, clergy offer simple advice: stay grounded in faith, avoid harmful influences, and seek help—spiritual or medical—when something feels off.

Because in the end, the biggest threat might not be demons at all… but the choices people make.