No Sympathy for the Devil

In a recent interview, Father Gabriele Amorth, Pope Benedict XVI’s official exorcist (“caster out of demons” in Vatican-speak) provided some fascinating insights into the inner-workings of the devil and those whose mission it is to stop him.

Among these revelations:

1). Who among these World War II-era figures was actually possessed by the devil? (Hint: There is more than one correct answer here.)

A. Adolf Hitler
B. Benito Mussolini
C. Joseph Stalin
D. Emperor Hirohito
E. Harry S. Truman


2). Which of the above figures did then-Pope Pius XII attempt a “long distance” exorcism on?

A. Adolf Hitler
B. Benito Mussolini
C. Joseph Stalin
D. Emperor Hirohito
E. Harry S. Truman


3). Did the long-distance exorcism work?

A. Yes
B. No
C. Not Sure


4). What is Father Amorth’s, who is also the president of the International Association of Exorcists, favorite movie?

A. The Passion of the Christ
B. Gigi
C. The Godfather
D. The Exorcist
E. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone


5). And lastly, which is greater, the number of exorcisms Father Amorth has performed, or the number of women Wilt Chamberlain slept with?

A. Father Amorth’s exorcisms
B. Wilt Chamberlain’s sex partners


ANSWERS
1). A and C: According to master exorcist Father Amorth, Hitler and Stalin were both possessed by the devil. “You can tell by their behavior and their actions, from the horrors they committed and the atrocities that were committed on their orders,” he said. “That’s why we need to defend society from demons.”

2). A: Pope Pius XII tried a long distance exorcism on Hitler.

3). B: Sadly, it did not work. “It is very rare that praying and attempting to carry out an exorcism from distance works,” Father Amorth explained. “One of the key requirements for an exorcism is to be present in front of the possessed person and that person also has to be consenting and willing.”

4). D: Yes, his favorite movie really is “The Exorcist.” (“Harry Potter,” on the other hand, “hides the signature of the king of the…devil.”)

5). A: Father Amorth says he has performed some 30,000 exorcisms in his career, while Wilt the Stilt claims to have slept with only 20,000 women.