Historic 1st Symposium on Demonology and Exorcism with Expert Bishops, Exorcists, Theologians, Canon lawyers, and Psychiatrists
First Symposium on Demonology and Exorcism brings together specialists in Fortaleza.1st Symposium on Demonology and Exorcism – Photo: Sercom Arqfor
In Brazil, the Marian Community Oasis of Peace, with the support of the Archdiocese of Fortaleza, held the 1st Symposium on Demonology and Exorcism on August 18th and 19th, 2026. The event brought together bishops, priests, exorcists, theologians, canon lawyers, and psychiatrists in Fortaleza for a reflection on demonology in the light of Sacred Scripture, Theology, the Magisterium of the Church, and pastoral experience.
Held in person at the Central Auditorium of the Catholic Faculty of Fortaleza, the symposium was attended by priests, seminarians, lay people who work in ministries of prayer, healing, deliverance and counseling, as well as others interested in the topic.
The opening was led by the Archbishop of Fortaleza, Dom Gregório Paixão, OSB, who also presided over the opening Holy Mass.
“The first thing I want to say to you, although I didn’t say this initially, is that the content presented at this symposium is scientific . It’s not fantasy. It’s not what we see in movies. It’s not what we sometimes see through popular tradition. It’s not the fantasy we create out of fear that we’ve been made to develop within ourselves,” said the archbishop.
The event brought together experts.
One of the highlights of the symposium was the participation of Father Pedro Paulo Alexandre, exorcist of the Archdiocese of Florianópolis and president of the Portuguese Language Secretariat of the International Association of Exorcists (AIE) . Recognized for his work in the training of exorcists, the priest addressed the Guidelines on the Ministry of Exorcisms in light of the current Ritual of the Church.
The religious leader also presented pastoral aspects related to the distinction between prayer for deliverance and exorcism, and the role of prayer ministers in the face of possible extraordinary manifestations.
Also participating in the program was Dom André Vital, SCJ, bishop of the Diocese of Limoeiro do Norte and Master in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. In his lecture, he reflected on demonology in the Gospels and the liberating ministry of Christ.
Another speaker was Father Antônio Gomes Macedo Júnior, a priest of the Archdiocese of Fortaleza, with a master's degree in Theology from the University of Navarra, an assistant exorcist, and in the process of becoming an associate member of the International Association of Exorcists. His lecture addressed the importance of demonology in the context of theological studies.
The symposium also included the participation of Father Fellinto de Oliveira Britto, exorcist of the Diocese of Tianguá, psychologist, spiritual director of a seminary, and rector of the Diocesan Sanctuary of Eucharistic Adoration.
Dr. Mauro Martins, a physician and assistant exorcist, addressed the distinction between psychiatric pathologies and possible spiritual phenomena , contributing to an approach that sought to consider both medical and spiritual aspects in the situations presented.
Training and clarification
One of the organizers of the event, Father David Piter, explained that the initiative arose from the desire to promote serious and well-founded reflection on demonology and exorcism, avoiding approaches that deviated from the teachings of the Church.
According to the priest, the objective was to help participants better understand the topic based on Sacred Scripture and the tradition and teachings of the Church.
The priest assessed that the significant participation also revealed the faith and pursuit of formation among the participants. “ The event surprised us from the beginning , when registrations sold out in the first few days. People truly had a deep faith and interest in what was discussed,” he emphasized.
The role of the exorcist
“We wanted to share about demonology and exorcism to help people better understand this subject, based on the truth that Sacred Scripture conveys and what the Church thinks about this topic, which is part of Theology,” he stated.
The role of the exorcist
During the symposium, Dom Gregório Paixão, OSB, Metropolitan Archbishop of Fortaleza, highlighted the pastoral dimension of the exorcist's ministry and the importance of welcoming and listening to those who sought the Church's help.
For the bishop, whoever has the mission of exorcising needs, first and foremost, to carry out a mission of spiritual accompaniment , seeking to understand the reality of each person and carefully discerning each situation.
“The exorcist is, first and foremost, the spiritual father who wishes to listen to his son. The exorcist is, above all, a person who has the God-given ability to calm hearts and also, if necessary, to perform his function as an exorcist or to perceive that something extraordinary is happening in that particular case,” stated Dom Gregório.
Dom Gregório emphasized that many people seeking help were going through complex situations and that, therefore, it was necessary to look at each case with attention and prudence.
Demonology as a subject of study
By bringing together representatives from different fields, the symposium also sought to present demonology as a topic that was part of theological reflection and that should be studied from the foundations of the Catholic faith.
The conferences addressed biblical, theological, pastoral, canonical, medical, and psychological aspects related to the topic. The aim was to provide participants with tools to understand the different situations that priests and pastoral agents might encounter.
The program also reinforced the need to distinguish situations of a spiritual nature from cases that could be related to psychological or psychiatric issues, highlighting the importance of discernment and responsible action.
Source: https://www.arquidiocesedefortaleza.org.br/i-simposio-de-demonologia-e-exorcismo-reune-especialistas-em-fortaleza/For the bishop, whoever has the mission of exorcising needs, first and foremost, to carry out a mission of spiritual accompaniment , seeking to understand the reality of each person and carefully discerning each situation.
“The exorcist is, first and foremost, the spiritual father who wishes to listen to his son. The exorcist is, above all, a person who has the God-given ability to calm hearts and also, if necessary, to perform his function as an exorcist or to perceive that something extraordinary is happening in that particular case,” stated Dom Gregório.
Dom Gregório emphasized that many people seeking help were going through complex situations and that, therefore, it was necessary to look at each case with attention and prudence.
Demonology as a subject of study
By bringing together representatives from different fields, the symposium also sought to present demonology as a topic that was part of theological reflection and that should be studied from the foundations of the Catholic faith.
The conferences addressed biblical, theological, pastoral, canonical, medical, and psychological aspects related to the topic. The aim was to provide participants with tools to understand the different situations that priests and pastoral agents might encounter.
The program also reinforced the need to distinguish situations of a spiritual nature from cases that could be related to psychological or psychiatric issues, highlighting the importance of discernment and responsible action.
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