Not only was the real-life pope's exorcist a fan of the 1973 movie, it made his career possible, a historian reveals.

The article discusses the release of "The Pope's Exorcist," a horror film inspired by the life of Rev. Gabriele Amorth, who served as the exorcist for the Diocese of Rome from 1986 until his death in 2016. Amorth was instrumental in normalizing the practice of Catholic exorcism, founding the International Association of Exorcists (IAE) in 1990. The IAE criticized the film for sensationalizing exorcism and misrepresenting the suffering of those who undergo the ritual, while some supporters argue it portrays a priest positively. The article highlights the historical connection between horror films and the resurgence of interest in exorcism, noting that Amorth himself acknowledged the influence of movies on public demand for the practice. [Extracted from the article]