Course on the Ministry of Exorcism and Deliverance

Academic Year 2025-2026

Modality

Residential, Full time

Language

Italian, English, Spanish

Class beginning dates

11/05/2026

The Course on the Ministry of Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation is the first program in the world to offer an academic and interdisciplinary formation for those who exercise or wish to deepen their understanding of this particular ministry of the Church.

Now in its 20th edition, the course has become an international point of reference, shaped by twenty years of research, study, and pastoral experience.

Organized by the Sacerdos Institute of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, in collaboration with GRIS – the Social-Religious Research and Information Group of Bologna, the program systematically and scientifically examines the anthropological, phenomenological, social, theological, liturgical, canonical, pastoral, spiritual, medical, neuroscientific, pharmacological, symbolic, criminological, legal, and juridical dimensions related to the ministry of exorcism and prayer of liberation.

Drawing on experts and faculty from multiple disciplines – including theology, medicine, psychology, law, neuroscience, and pastoral ministry – the course provides a comprehensive and well-grounded formation that unites theological competence, spiritual discernment, and pastoral responsibility.

As we celebrate the 20th anniversary, the program reaffirms its mission: to support the Church in discernment and pastoral accompaniment, offering reliable tools and an integral understanding of the human person.

 

Course Details

  • Dates: May 11-15, 2026
  • Participation: In-person, at the premises of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum (Rome)
  • Course languages: Italian, English, and Spanish.
  • Registration fee: € 575
  • Simultaneous translation service (upon request): € 350

Further Information: for more details, consult the program of the last edition.

For FAQs, please click here.

Requirements for registration

For Catholic priests

  • valid celebret (if the celebret does not have an expiration date, a letter of presentation from the bishop or superior is required)
  • identity document

For lay people

For lay people and clergy of other denominations

  • Letter of authorization from a Catholic ecclesiastical authority; if the letter comes from an authority of another Christian denomination, it must still bear the signature and stamp of a Catholic bishop.
  • Motivational letter explaining the reasons for wanting to participate in the course
  • Identity document
  • Curriculum Vitae

This requirement complies with the Norms of Application of the Congregation for Catholic Education for the implementation of the Apostolic Constitution Veritatis Gaudium (Section IV, Art. 26 §1.1), which requires non-Catholic students to submit a written presentation from a Catholic ecclesiastical authority.

 

How to register

  1. Fill out the online registration form by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page.
  2. Prepare the required documentation based on your category (priest, religious, lay person, or member of another denomination) to upload to the admission form.
  3. Wait for confirmation of acceptance from the Academic Secretariat.
  4. Pay the registration fee (€575) following the instructions received via email.
  5. If you require simultaneous translation, please indicate this on the registration form and pay the additional fee of €350.

For FAQs, please see here.

Contact

For more information, please contact us:

Email: info.sacerdos@upra.org

Mobile: +39 320 2461802 (Renato Zeuli)

 

Useful Information

Dates

Registrations from 15/10/2025 to 04/05/2026

Cost

Registration:575€

Enroll in the Course

Admission Requirements

How to Register

FAQ: Useful information for those who would like to participate in the course

1. Target Audience

The course is intended for anyone who wishes to deepen their knowledge of the ministry of exorcism and deliverance prayer in a serious and interdisciplinary way.
In particular, it is aimed at:

  • Priests, especially exorcists, who wish to update and deepen their ministry.
  • Deacons, religious men and women, and seminarians.
  • Lay people involved in pastoral work and ecclesial realities (associations, movements, parish groups), including exorcists’ assistants.
  • Psychologists, physicians, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement officers interested in better understanding spiritual discernment and differential diagnosis.
  • Clergy and laypeople of other Christian denominations, upon presentation of the letter of authorization required by a Catholic ecclesiastical authority.

2. Requirements and Documentation for Registration

Requirements vary depending on the category to which you belong:

  • Catholic priests: valid celebret; if no expiration date is provided, a letter of introduction from the bishop or religious superior is required.

 

  • Lay Catholics: letter of authorization from an ecclesiastical authority (the letter must be signed by the bishop; if signed by the parish priest or other religious figure, it must be validated by the bishop with a stamp and signature), letter of motivation, identity document, and curriculum vitae.

 

  • Clergy and laypeople of other Christian denominations: letter of authorization from a Catholic ecclesiastical authority (the letter must be signed by a Catholic bishop; if the letter comes from an authority of another Christian denomination, it must still bear the signature and stamp of a Catholic bishop), letter of motivation, identity document, and curriculum vitae.
  • Catholic priests: those who do not have a valid celebret (expiration date shown on the document) must present a letter signed by the bishop or religious superior.

 

  • Lay Catholics: the letter must be signed by the bishop; if signed by the parish priest or other religious figure, it must be validated by the bishop with a stamp and signature. You can download a template at this link

 

  • Clergy and laypeople of other Christian denominations: the letter must be signed by a Catholic bishop; if the letter comes from an authority of another Christian denomination, it must still bear the signature and stamp of a Catholic bishop. You can download a template at link

 

3. Registration Procedure

The registration process consists of three steps:

  1. Fill out the first contact form. By clicking on the ‘Register for the course’ button, you will be redirected to the first contact form, where you will be asked to provide your first and last name, email address, and phone number. This first form is used to validate your email address. Once you have completed the form and clicked on ‘send’, after a few minutes you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the ‘Admission Form’.
  2. Fill in and submit the Admission Form. Complete the form with your information and upload the documents required for admission. In this form, you can also indicate whether you require simultaneous translation.
  3. Confirmation of admission and payment. Once submitted, your application will be evaluated by the Academic Secretariat. If successful, you will receive an admission confirmation email containing all the instructions for paying the registration fee. Once the fee has been paid, your registration is complete.

4. Course Content, Certificate and Objectives

No. The course has academic and educational purposes and does not confer the qualification to exercise the ministry of exorcism. The office of exorcist can only be conferred by the diocesan bishop, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Canon Law.

Participants who have regularly attended classes will receive a joint certificate of attendance from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum and the Sacerdos Institute.

The course is an important opportunity for training and updating, offering a solid foundation of theological, canonical, medical, and psychological knowledge for those who work or wish to collaborate in discernment and liberation ministry.

Yes. At the end of the course, teaching materials (slides, presentations, and texts provided by the instructors) will be made available to participants via an online platform or sent by email.

The course has an academic and pastoral approach and does not include liturgical simulations of the exorcism ritual.
However, practical aspects are explored in depth through:

  • Analysis of real (anonymous) cases presented by exorcists, doctors, and psychologists.
  • Round tables for discussion between experts and ministers from different disciplinary areas.
  • Multidisciplinary insights into the differential diagnosis between mental illness and extraordinary spiritual phenomena.

 5. Languages and Translation

The course is mainly held in Italian, but simultaneous translation into English and Spanish is available (and into other languages, depending on demand).
This service is optional and involves an additional cost of €350, to be indicated at the time of registration.

6. Costs and Payment Methods

The registration fee is €575, to be paid according to the instructions received after confirmation of admission.

Payment can be made by bank transfer or credit card, or in cash or by card at the APRA counter.

IMPORTANT: It will not be possible to pay at the APRA counter on the day the course starts.

There are currently no scholarships available. Any future initiatives will be communicated through the official channels of the University and the Sacerdos Institute.

7. Hospitality and Accommodation

The course takes place at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, Via degli Aldobrandeschi 190 – Rome (Aurelia area).
There are several accommodation facilities nearby, which participants can contact directly:

Seminarists and priests may request assistance with accommodation at the International College of Legionaries of Christ (CILC) by sending an email to the organizing secretariat at sacerdos@upra.org.

Do you need information?

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