Catholic exorcists are claiming they are burnt out as they are tasked with conducting exorcisms with little help and few exorcists.
According to The Times, research undertaken by experts working with the Regina Apostolorum, a Vatican-approved religious university in Rome, found Italian exorcists were overworked and received little support from their bishops as they dealt with long queues of Catholics claiming satanic possession.
Priests said they need support from psychologists to filter out people who are mentally unstable rather than possessed, seeing 30 to 50 cases every day.
They were also forced to conduct exorcisms on COVID-19-positive people allegedly possessed by evil.
The survey found Italy has at least 290 exorcists, with 37 in Spain, 16 in England and Wales, nine in Ireland and three in Scotland.
Interest in a course in exorcism has recently soared due to Pope Francis' belief in exorcism, with 120 participants this year.
Spanish priest and professor of theology Father Pedro Barrajon said the course is helping increase desperately-needed exorcists better equipped to deal with the devil.
"Costa Rica didn’t have a single exorcist and last year they named their first one," he told the outlet.
"Manila in the Philippines now have a dedicated office and team.
"It used to be like the Wild West out there, but the quality is going up and we are seeing more co-operation with psychologists. Exorcism always arouses interest because of films about it, but the truth is these priests need to be trained."