By JAYFERSON COMITAN

Asia’s first exorcism center – the St. Michael Center for Exorcism and Spiritual Liberation - named after St. Michael the Archangel, the defender against evil, officially opened in Guadalupe, Makati City to address the rising number of cases involving “spiritual distress.”

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose F. Advincula led the inauguration and blessing of the center. He was joined by exorcists from the archdiocese led by Fr. Jocis Syquia.

“This is not merely the inauguration of a building. It is the consecration of a mission. It is a public proclamation that the Church continues to take the reality of spiritual struggle seriously, and that she stands with a sure and unshakeable confidence and hope in the victory of Christ over all forms of evil,” Advincula said.

The center will not only conduct exorcism rites but will also serve as a place for prayer, pastoral care, and spiritual healing for those seeking guidance.

Advincula emphasized, however, that not all forms of suffering are “demonic” and that “not all struggle requires exorcism.”

“The Church, in her wisdom, distinguishes between psychological, social, and spiritual realities,” he said.

“But we also affirm that sin and evil both create real captivity: captivity to fear, to addiction, to hatred, to despair,” he added.

In his homily, Advincula also spoke of what he described as “various forms of bondage” affecting society today.

He first talked about the “bondage of evil and injustice,” saying that when corruption, humiliation, and violence become normal in society, the spiritual battle must come to the front to defend what is right.

“To defend the Church from evil is not only to resist demonic forces in a ritual sense,” he said. “It is also to stand firmly against injustice, exploitation, and moral compromise.”

Advincula also pointed to the “bondage of sickness and poverty.” saying that many people are trapped in a society’s problem.

“Poverty can suffocate hope. Sickness can isolate the human person,” he said, stressing that liberation must include “works of mercy and concrete solidarity.”

In his reflection on the “bondage of fakery and lies,” Advincula warned that many people today are trapped not by visible chains, but by the spread of misinformation and dishonesty, particularly in the digital space.

“In our time, we face a crisis of truth. Falsehood spreads rapidly. Narratives are manipulated,” Advincula said.

He referred to today as the “age of fake news” and said that liberation should also be seen in the way people handle information and communication.

“Spiritual liberation today requires forming communities that value truth, that verify before sharing, that refuse to weaponize information, that resists the temptation to use words to hurt,” he emphasized.

Church officials said they receive an average of two reported cases of “spiritual oppression” every day.

The Center will also serve as the headquarters of the Philippine Association of Catholic Exorcists under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.