In the 1980s, religious leaders expressed concerns that Satanists were corrupting society through mediums like rock music and role-playing games. Today, according to organisers of a specialised exorcism training programme, the devil has embraced far more contemporary tools.
Modern Methods for Ancient Fears
Priests, imams, and rabbis have been invited to participate in a unique training course in Rome to address what they perceive as a disturbing surge in satanic activities powered by artificial intelligence. Father Luis Ramirez Almanza, a Mexican priest who oversees the annual programme, cautions that devil worshippers are now utilising AI to communicate covertly, conceal their online presence, and produce materials for their occult rituals.
The Dark Side of Deepfakes
Exorcists are particularly alarmed by reports that Satanists are employing AI to generate images of children participating in satanic rites. Advanced deepfake technology has enabled online paedophiles to create vast quantities of child sexual abuse material, some of which is allegedly repurposed for satanic objectives.
Father Almanza explained to The Times: 'Artificial intelligence is a great power. A force for both good and evil — and can therefore be used for devil worshipping.' He issued this grave warning during a press conference announcing the 'Course on the Ministry of Exorcism and Prayer of Deliverance' at the Vatican-affiliated Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum university.
Interfaith Collaboration Against Evil
The course will welcome 170 participants from diverse religious traditions, including official Catholic exorcists, imams, rabbis, and Evangelical preachers. While the training does not grant attendees authorisation to perform exorcisms—which under Catholic Canon Law requires approval from a diocesan bishop—the university's website states it provides 'a solid foundation of theological, canonical, medical, and psychological knowledge for those who work or wish to collaborate in discernment and liberation ministry.'
This year, Father Almanza emphasises that the curriculum will specifically examine the purported role of AI in occult and satanic practices.
Connecting Paedophilia and Satanism
One notable speaker is Father Fortunato Di Noto, a Sicilian priest who established the Meter Association to combat child sexual abuse. Father Di Noto now contends that certain satanic groups merge devil worship with paedophilia through AI technology.
He stated: 'We believe these groups are using AI to generate images of children involved in satanic rites. Using children appeals to them because it's a form of power being exercised over the innocent.'
Explosion of AI-Generated Abuse Material
This concern emerges alongside a dramatic increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse content online. The Meter Association's latest report identified 8,213 children whose images had been sexualised using artificial intelligence. These images predominantly circulate on encrypted platforms like Signal, though last year, Elon Musk's decision not to regulate the Grok AI model reportedly triggered a proliferation of such material on the public internet.
The association documented 1,121 fake nude images of children produced by Grok, representing 14 percent of the total cases. Similarly, analysis by the Internet Watch Foundation revealed that online paedophiles created 3,440 child abuse videos using AI in 2025—a staggering 26,362 percent rise from the previous year.
However, no confirmed evidence currently links this material explicitly to satanic rituals or ceremonial use.
Academic and Investigative Perspectives
Another conference speaker, Beatrice Ugolini, a scholar specialising in the history of magic, will explore how Italy's estimated 263 occult groups employ AI to generate symbols for their rites. David Murgia, president of the Gruppo di Ricerca e Informazione Socio–religiosa, which monitors cult activity in Italy, notes: 'Police tell us satanists are using AI to hide their content online and communicate with each other.'
It is important to acknowledge that while evidence for murderous satanic groups in Italy remains limited, attempted exorcisms have directly resulted in several fatalities. For instance, in 2024, Giovanni Barreca, 54, was convicted of murdering his wife and two sons during an attempted 'exorcism rite,' claiming he believed they were demon-possessed.
Vatican's Cautious Stance on Technology
This exorcism course focusing on AI dangers coincides with the Vatican adopting a more prudent approach to emerging technologies. Following his election last year, Pope Leo warned that artificial intelligence threatens to deprive people of their employment, privacy, and dignity. The American pontiff advised Catholics to be wary of 'extremely rich people who are investing in artificial intelligence, totally ignoring the value of human beings and of humanity.'
The intersection of ancient spiritual battles and cutting-edge technology presents unprecedented challenges for religious communities worldwide, prompting this unprecedented interfaith educational initiative in the heart of Rome.
