Prayer of Exorcism Leo XIII
Leo XIII's vision of hell
But what did Pope Leo XIII see that inspired this prayer and made him want it recited during every Eucharistic celebration?
His vision is reported in several works, notably in The Antichristian Conspiracy by Mgr Henri Delassus. Pope Leo XIII describes an exchange between two voices, that of God and that of Satan, convinced that with a little time he has the power to destroy the Church.
He then has a “terrible vision of hell” and, at the very end, Saint Michael the Archangel intervenes following the increase in prayers addressed to him.
In 1884, Pope Leo XIII wrote a prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel. It was instituted at the end of each Mass in 1886 before being suppressed by the liturgical reform of Vatican II in 1964.
This prayer to Saint Michael nevertheless remains very well known, and Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis have invited Catholics to continue to pray it so that the Church and men are supported in the fight against evil.