Some of the priest's statements did not go unchallenged. When his memoirs were released in 2010, he claimed that there are "members of Satanic sects" in the Vatican, including priests, monsignors and cardinals. Fr. Amorth said the Pope at the time, Benedict XVI, "does what he can" against such groups.
Fr. Fortea himself questioned the claim, saying some exorcists agreed with Fr. Amorth about the Vatican sects, while others did not.
Fr. Amorth held numerous positions in the Society of St. Paul, including aspirant director, high school teacher, delegate of the Italian province, and spiritual director of various lay institutes. He was also a journalist. For many years he directed the monthly "Mother of God" and worked with the group Famiglia Cristiana and Radio Maria.
He was the author of several books and founded the International Association of Exorcists.
On Sept. 8, 2015 the Prefect of Rome, Paola Basilone, in the presence of Italy's defense minister Roberta Pinotti, awarded Fr. Amorth the Medal of Liberation for his important role in the partisan struggle in Italy during the Second World War.
The priest had been hospitalized for several weeks for lung complications.
Fr. Fortea last saw Fr. Amorth in 2012.
"His character had not changed. So close to ninety years and still doing exorcisms."