Self-proclaimed priest, not recognized by the Catholic Church, Francisco Marques, 27, places his hands on a woman’s forehead, 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)
