That Exorcists’ convention that was the butt of jokey commentary? Here’s some reporting from the meeting.

In statements to the Italian newspaper Avvenire, Father Giancarlo Gramolazzo, president of the International Association of Exorcists, said: "There is much disinformation today on the role of the exorcist; sadly, the media shows this figure as something other than what he really is."

"With his apostolate," he said, the exorcist "leads to the faith, persons who are possessed, vexed or obsessed by the devil."

"Essentially," said Father Gramolazzo, "the exorcist is a catechist who undertakes a journey of faith with a person, also involving the family. The Gospel also teaches this — Mark 9:14-29 — when we read, for example, the case of the possessed child whom Jesus heals by helping the father to have faith."

Father Gramolazzo also warned of the danger of a superstitious faith which "attributes all physical and spiritual troubles to the devil’s action."

However, he said, "an aversion to the sacred," or affliction by "unknown illnesses or even symptoms that are difficult to identify," could be possible signs of possession. "Demonic presence must be diagnosed case by case," he said.

I was quite struck by that italicized (by me) paragraph. Thought-provoking.