Father Gabriele Amorth and Hollywood’s Telling
Horror enthusiasts may recall the film The Pope’s Exorcist set in the late 1980s, where the Vatican’s chief exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, battles demonic forces taking possession of a young boy, Henry. While the plot unfolds, the narrative delves deeper into the shadows of Vatican’s past, hinting at an exorcist’s possession, a tale the Church reportedly concealed.
Though a gripping narrative, the movie borrows heavily from reality. The tale is inspired by Father Gabriele Amorth’s memoirs, chronicling his years as the papal exorcist. Given his genuine association with the Pope, audiences frequently wonder about the identity of the papal leader during the depicted events.
John Paul II: The Pope Behind the Story
The distinguished Pope John Paul II led the Catholic Church during The Pope’s Exorcist’s timeline. The film refrains from using his actual name, opting for the vague term “the Pope.” Those familiar with John Paul II’s calm and compassionate image may find it unexpected that Father Amorth served as his chief exorcist.
Addressing Possession Rumors: Amorth’s Surprising Revelations
The plot takes a sinister turn when the Pope falls severely ill after perusing Father Amorth’s accounts of Henry’s possession. The climax points towards a potential possession of the Pope himself. But how much of this plot twist mirrors reality?
Father Amorth, not a stranger to controversy, once hinted at the Pope’s encounter with demonic forces. His 2010 ABC News interview saw him referencing the Devil’s attempts to breach Vatican security. Amorth didn’t necessarily claim that Pope John Paul II underwent a possession. Instead, he saw the Devil’s hand in external threats to the Pope.
In a historical event from May 1981, Turkish professional assassin Mehmet Ali Ağca grievously wounded Pope John Paul II. A similar attack on his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, took place in 2009, when an assailant targeted him during Christmas Mass. While these attacks on papal figures are well-documented, The Pope’s Exorcist writers might have taken certain artistic liberties in suggesting the direct possession of the Pope.
In conclusion, the line between fact and fiction is often blurred in cinema. While the essence of The Pope’s Exorcist borrows from genuine accounts and figures, discerning viewers would do well to separate the film’s dramatized tales from the Vatican’s actual history.
