A Priest Explains Exorcisms, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare (Msgr. Charles Pope) | Ep. 600

October 12, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

A Priest on Demons, Hell, and the State of the Church

Msgr. Charles Pope, a priest of 38 years, once told a bishop he felt like "demons have jumped my back" during a severe personal crisis. The bishop replied: "Oh Charles, demons don't exist." That moment captures a central tension in Pope's experience: a church that stopped talking about hell, demons, and spiritual warfare, and a culture that filled the vacuum. In this wide-ranging conversation, Pope explains exorcisms, deliverance, the four preternatural signs of possession, the nature of hell, and why he thinks the church is in a fragile but not hopeless state.

The Four Signs of True Possession

Actual demonic possession is rare. Pope estimates that of every 100–200 people who approach a diocese claiming possession, only 1–10% actually are. Most need deliverance prayers, not a formal exorcism. The rest have psychological conditions that need medical attention.

Exorcists use a process of discernment that includes ruling out medical and psychiatric causes, then praying "diagnostic prayers" that command any demon to step forward. "Most exorcists tell me it's quite effective," Pope says. "Demons are the most narcissistic of all."

The Church's Rite of Exorcism identifies four "preternatural signs" that must be present (ideally two) for a formal exorcism to proceed:

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

Never miss an episode of Pints With Aquinas

Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (01:30) **Demons Are Real, and Exorcisms Are on the Rise** - Msgr. Pope recounts a bishop telling him demons don't exist, then explains why exorcisms are increasing.
2 (02:11) **The Four Preternatural Signs of Possession** - The diagnostic criteria exorcists use to distinguish possession from psychological illness.
3 (02:41) **The State of the Church: From the "Wild West" to Today** - Msgr. Pope describes his seminary formation in the 1980s and the current condition of the Church.
4 (14:34) **The Priesthood and the Power of the Cassock** - Why visible signs of the priesthood matter for the laity and for spiritual warfare.
5 (17:01) **The Tough Papal Years and the Need for Clarity** - Msgr. Pope discusses the challenges of the Francis pontificate and the proper role of a pope.
6 (33:40) **A Priest's Nervous Breakdown and the Reality of Spiritual Warfare** - Msgr. Pope shares a personal story of demonic oppression that was dismissed by a bishop.
7 (36:36) **Why Hell Exists: A Matter of Freedom, Not Divine Anger** - A theological explanation of hell rooted in God's respect for human freedom.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Why did the Church stop talking about hell? Monsignor Charles Pope on demons, exorcism, angels, and the call to repent.

Ep. 600

Enjoy these episodes and other exclusive content ad free, one week early with DailyWire+ : https://get.dailywire.com

- - -

📚 Resources Mentioned:

The Hell There Is by Msgr. Charles Pope: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/the-hell-there-is-an-exploration-of-an-often-rejected-doctrine-of-the-church

Theotokos Rosaries: https://dwplus.shop/TheotokosRosaries

Truthly 30 Day Free Trial: https://get.truthly.ai/TlbX/MATT30

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Catholic Match: Visit https://CatholicMatch.com or download the app today. It’s free to get started.

Charity Mobile: Visit https://charitymobile.com/mattfradd

Free phone offer with Code: MATTFRADD

Hallow: Make time for God with Hallow’s 21 Days of Prayer Challenge. Pray alongside someone new each day and discover a routine you can carry beyond the challenge. Download Hallow for 3 months free and join at https://Hallow.com/FRADD

PreBorn!: Please join PreBorn and The Daily Wire as we help rescue 50,000 more babies' lives. For $28, you can sponsor an ultrasound and help save a baby’s life. To donate, dial #250 & say the keyword “BABY” or donate securely at https://PreBorn.com/PINTS

Quo: Today's episode is brought to you by Quo, the business phone system built so you never miss a call. Try QUO for free + get 20% off your first 6 months at https://Quo.com/PINTS

Seven Weeks Coffee: Go to https://SevenWeeksCoffee.com/PINTS and subscribe to save 15% forever, plus you’ll receive a free gift. Use promo code PINTS for an extra 10% off your first order, bringing your first order savings to 25%, plus that free gift.

- - -

Become a Daily Wire Member and watch all of our content ad-free: ⁠⁠https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe⁠⁠

📲 Download the free Daily Wire app today on iPhone, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Samsung, and more.

- - -

📕 Get my newest book, Jesus Our Refuge, here: https://a.co/d/bDU0xLb

🍺 Want to Support Pints With Aquinas? 🍺

Get episodes a week early and join exclusive live streams with me! Become an annual supporter at 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mattfradd.locals.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠

- - -

💻 Follow Me on Social Media:

📌 Facebook: https://facebook.com/mattfradd

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/mattfradd

𝕏 Twitter/X: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Pints_W_A