The Catholic Church in the Philippines has inaugurated what officials are calling Asia’s first dedicated Catholic exorcism center. Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula led the blessing and formal opening of the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Liberation in Guadalupe, Makati on February 23, 2026.
Serving as the headquarters of the Philippine Association of Catholic Exorcists, the facility operates under both the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the Archdiocese of Manila.
Church officials said the center is designed to give the Church’s deliverance ministry a permanent and structured home. Authorized priests will be able to conduct the Rite of Exorcism, lead prayers for deliverance, provide counseling, and carry out other spiritual interventions in accordance with Catholic doctrine. The center is also expected to support the formation and coordination of exorcist priests across dioceses nationwide.
Catholic Church guidelines strictly limit the practice of exorcism to priests who have received explicit authorization from a diocesan bishop. Church leaders have emphasized that cases are carefully evaluated and may involve consultation with medical and psychological professionals before any formal rites are performed.
The Philippines remains one of the largest Catholic populations in Asia, and officials behind the initiative said the center reflects a growing need for organized pastoral responses to requests for spiritual assistance across the country.
The Archdiocese of Manila confirmed the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Liberation will operate under full ecclesiastical oversight. Additional operational details have not been publicly disclosed.