The international association Heralds of the Gospel , recognized by the Vatican and suspected of carrying out strange exorcisms and maneuvering behind the back of Pope Francis, has been placed under pontifical guardianship for "deficiencies related to his government" and "the lifestyle of some of its members ", as reported by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The Heralds of the Gospel are an international association of pontifical law faithful present in more than 70 countries - including Spain - that are recognized for wearing a brown and white habit with a large cross on their chest similar to that of medieval knights . It was founded by Monsignor Joao Scognamiglio Clá Dias , a former member of the Brazilian traditionalist and counterrevolutionary Catholic association TFP (Tradition, Family and Property). The TFP suffered a split and from one of its branches emerged the Heralds of the Gospel, which act completely autonomously.

The association, recognized by John Paul II in 2001, was under investigation since 2007 for alleged irregularities in its management and in the lives of some of its members. In June of that same year the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life together with the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life made an apostolic visit to the association of which the society of life is also part Apostolic clerical 'Virgo Flos Carmeli' and the female apostolic life society 'Regina Virginum' , both also intervened by the Holy See.

The investigation has revealed a series of "deficiencies in the style of government, the life of the members of the Council, vocation ministry, the formation of new vocations, the administration, the management of works and the management of resources" , according to the Holy See through an article published on the Vatican News portal and disseminated by the Vatican Press Office.

Some information published in 2017 ensured that the Vatican was investigating "strange ancient cults" and exorcisms practiced invoking the name of Bishop Scognamiglio Clá Dias made by relevant members of the association. Shortly after, the video of a meeting between priests of the Heralds of the Gospel and its founder was broadcast during which an alleged dialogue between a priest of the association and a demon during an exorcism is read.

During the ritual, performed using a formula not approved by the Church, the supposed demon attributes exceptional powers to the late Plinio Correa de Oliveira , founder of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP), the association from which the Heralds of the Gospel emerged, as the ability to increase the temperature of the planet or cause a meteorite to fall in North America.

At another moment of exorcism the priest asks the alleged demon about the Pontiff and he replies that "Pope Francis will die falling" and that Plinio Correa de Oliveira "is encouraging the death" of the Pope. A statement to which the priests present at the meeting exclaim "phenomenal!" while Monsignor Clá Dias smiles. The founder of the Heralds of the Gospel resigned from the presidency in June 2017.

After knowing the conclusions of the investigation, the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life, after obtaining the approval of the Pope, has appointed papal commissioner of the association to Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis , archbishop emeritus of Aparecida (Brazil).

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