The Pope has been captured on film performing an apparent exorcism.
Footage taken in St Peter's Square purports to show Pope Francis carrying out a ritual to liberate a young man from demons.
The disabled man went into a frenzy of convulsions and shook, then slumped as Francis prayed over him.
Experts said the footage broadcast on the religious satellite channel TV2000's programme Vade Retro, shows the Pontiff reciting a prayer to drive evil spirits from the body.
Fuelling the speculation is Francis' obsession with the devil, a frequent subject of his homilies.
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The Vatican downplayed the incident. Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the Pope 'did not intend to perform an exorcism' but a 'prayer for a suffering person'.
The former Pope, Benedict XVI, never officially performed an exorcism but John Paul II is known to have carried out at least three exorcisms during his tenure.
-Adapted from Daily Mail
