A Catholic priest has warned that AI chatbots have been fuelling Satanism, saying they can be used for “devil worshipping”.

Father Luis Ramirez Almanza, a Mexican Catholic priest, has invited rabbis, imams and evangelical preachers to join an annual exorcism training course in Rome.

The anti-satanism course is expected to draw up to 170 participants and this year, there will be a special emphasis on AI’s use among devil worshippers and targeting the “evil” side of AI, according to The Times.

Speaking during a press conference, where he announced his “course on the Ministry of Exorcism and Prayer of Deliverance,” Almanza said: "Artificial intelligence is a great power, a force for both good and evil, and can therefore be used for devil worshipping."

Due to rising concern, some Christians have started to dedicate their careers to fighting Satanists.  

David Murgia, who runs Catholic Risk and Insurance Services, a research group monitoring cults and fringe religious movements, said law enforcement has warned that occult groups are turning to AI tools to cloak their activities online and communicate.

“Police tell us satanists are using AI to hide their content online and communicate with each other,” he told the outlet.

In Italy, occult groups are said to be using AI to generate demonic symbols, according to Father Fortunato Di Noto.

The Sicilian priest who will be speaking at a session in May said: “We believe these groups are using AI to generate images of children involved in satanic rites.”

“Using children appeals to them because it’s a form of power being exercised over the innocent,” he added.

This comes after Pope Leo XIV warned that AI risks robbing people of their privacy and their jobs last month.

He told Priests in a closed clergymen meeting that AI "will never be able to share the faith,” later describing the tool as a "empty, cold shell" that lacks human creativity.