Samozwańczy egzorcyści w Fatimie
EN_01679597_0165
TO GO WITH A AFP STORY BY THOMAS CABRAL
Self-proclaimed priest, not recognized by the Catholic Church, Francisco Marques, 27 years old, places his hands on a woman’s forehead as she lies on the floor, during a "exorcist retreat" where he claims to cast out demons afflicting his followers, organized by the "Prelature of Saints Peter and Paul” in Fatima on May 30, 2026. The scene unfolds not in a church but in the basement of a small shopping centre a short walk from the vast esplanade of Portugal's famed Fatima shine, one of the Catholic Church's most visited pilgrimage sites.
The gathering was part of a series of monthly "exorcism retreats" held in Fatima that have raised concerns among Catholic authorities, who say they operate outside official Church oversight by self-styled religious figures and risk exploiting vulnerable believers. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)
2026-06-14
PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/East News
AFP
PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA
AFP_B78C26A
3,04MB
49cm x 32cm by 300dpi
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