Vatican Denies Pope Francis Performed an Exorcism

Television network overreacted to images of him laying hands on a man's head

The Vatican has denied claims that Pope Francis performed an exorcism, after TV images showed a man apparently reacting to him putting his hands on his head.

The encounter—during Sunday Mass—was shown on a TV channel owned by the Italian bishops' conference.

The station quoted exorcists as saying there was "no doubt" the Pope had either performed an exorcism or a prayer to free the man from the devil.