Pope Leo Xiii Institute

What Pope Leo Xiii Institute does

The Pope Leo XIII Institute is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization (EIN: 45-5349929) that delivers formation and training for Catholic priests and deacons in the ministry of exorcism, healing, and deliverance. Founded in 2005 via an initial conference at Mundelein Seminary and granted IRS tax-exempt status in 2012, the Institute operates independently of any diocese or formal Catholic Church structure and funds operations entirely through private donations, bequests, and program fees. Its headquarters and all programs are housed at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, where the institute holds its core educational offerings.

The Institute's core product is a two-year Clergy-Only formation program consisting of four intensive 10-day modules covering angelology, demonology, exorcism rites, psychology, psychiatry, canon law, and liturgy, priced at $3,200 per module ($12,800 total). It complements this with an annual week-long Summer Conference (priced $625-$1,400 depending on attendance mode), an online bookstore selling books and DVDs on spiritual warfare and Marian devotion, and supplementary donation programs including tribute gifts and scholarship funds. The curriculum is anchored by a multidisciplinary faculty of exorcists, psychiatrists, physicians, canon lawyers, and theologians, and operates under the ecclesiastical endorsement of a USCCB-appointed Episcopal Moderator.

Go-to-market is sales-led and referral-driven: program enrollment requires a Bishop's letter of recommendation, and demand generation flows through direct outreach to U.S. (and selectively Canadian) Catholic bishops, USCCB networks, the Institute's website (popeleo13institute.org), and modest social media presence. Pricing is per-unit, billed across multi-year clergy courses or per-event for conferences. Customer segments include Catholic bishops (primary), priests and deacons enrolled in formation (primary), and supporting laity (secondary). The Institute has graduated six cohorts to date — 55 men in November 2015 and 39 in November 2025 — with a seventh cohort enrolling February 2026.

Name

Pope Leo Xiii Institute

Legal name

Pope Leo XIII Institute

Website

https://popeleo13institute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Pope Leo XIII Institute is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit that trains Catholic priests and deacons in exorcism, healing, and deliverance ministry through a two-year clergy formation program and an annual summer conference held at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education and Clergy Formation

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA), Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Exorcism ministry training
• Clergy formation programs
• Catholic religious education
• Spiritual warfare education
• Priestly formation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Libertyville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Clergy Training Program Fees: Two-year clergy-only course with four modules costing $3,200 per module ($1,400 registration + $1,800 room & board), totaling $12,800 for all four modules
2. Summer Conference Revenue: Annual summer conference with registration fees ranging from $625 (virtual) to $1,400 (single room with meals)
3. Bookstore Sales: Sale of books and DVDs on exorcism, spiritual warfare, and Catholic teachings through online store
4. Private Donations and Bequests: Reliance on private contributions and bequests from donors to fund operations as independent organization not affiliated with Catholic Church structure

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Pope Leo XIII Institute provides comprehensive education and training for Catholic priests and deacons in the ministry of exorcism, healing, and deliverance. Its core offerings are a two-year Clergy-Only Course (four 10-day intensive modules) and an annual Summer Conference, held at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL, complemented by an online bookstore of related books and DVDs.

Product overview

Pope Leo XIII Institute is a private, non-profit educational organization that provides comprehensive training and formation for Catholic priests and deacons in the ministry of exorcism, healing, and deliverance. The organization offers a two-year Clergy-Only Courses program consisting of four intensive 10-day modules covering theological, liturgical, psychological, and practical aspects of exorcism ministry. Annual Summer Conferences provide ongoing education and case study presentations. The Institute operates an online bookstore selling books on exorcism, spiritual warfare, and Marian devotion, as well as documentary DVDs including 'The Miracle Box' and 'Purgatory - The Forgotten Church.' Additional offerings include tribute gift programs and scholarship donations. All programs are held at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2026-2027 Clergy-Only Course A two-year intensive formation program for Catholic priests and deacons consisting of four 10-day modules covering exorcism, deliverance, and healing ministry curriculum, including angelology, demonology, exorcism rites, psychology, canon law, and pastoral approaches. Requires a Bishop's letter of recommendation.
• 2026 Summer Conference A week-long annual conference featuring presentations on exorcism, angelology, cults, and spiritual warfare topics, held at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary.
• Online Bookstore Online store offering books and DVDs on exorcism, spiritual warfare, healing prayers, Marian devotion, and documentary films including titles by Fr. Francesco Bamonte and Mary Leonora Wilson.
• Tribute Gift Program Donation program allowing supporters to make tax-deductible tribute gifts in honor of individuals, including memorial gift options.
• Year End Scholarship Donation Scholarship donation program supporting priests in attending the Institute's formation programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55 men graduated from first cohort (November 2015); sixth cohort of 39 men graduating November 2025

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015USCCB appoints Episcopal Moderator (Bishop Robert D. Gruss) to oversee and support the Institute. The Institute operates under the auspices of a designated Catholic Bishop of the USCCB. This relationship provides legitimacy and endorsement within the Catholic Church structure.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sacred Heart Major Seminary: Archdiocesan seminary in Detroit offering priestly formation and graduate theology programs. Comparable as a Catholic clergy formation institution with similar curricular depth to the Institute's clergy-only courses.
• Catholic Theological Union: Chicago-based Catholic graduate school of theology offering MDiv, MTS, and DMin degrees with ecumenical faculty. Comparable as a specialized Catholic theological education institution training clergy and lay ministers.
• Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum): Vatican-affiliated Dominican university in Rome offering advanced theology and philosophy. Comparable as a high-level Catholic formation institution for clergy and religious, including specialized ministry tracks.
• The Catholic University of America: The national university of the Catholic Church in the US, offering theology, canon law, and ministry programs. Comparable as a Catholic institution supporting clergy formation and graduate theological education.
• Mount St. Mary's Seminary (Emmitsburg): US national Catholic seminary providing priestly formation and theological education. Comparable as a Catholic clergy formation institution offering intensive residential programs for priests and seminarians.
• University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary: The host venue and the principal Catholic seminary for the Archdiocese of Chicago, providing broader priestly formation (MDiv, formation programs). Comparable as a Catholic clergy formation institution in the same geographic and educational ecosystem.

Direct peers

• International Association of Exorcists (Associazione Internazionale Esorcisti): The Vatican-recognized international body of Catholic exorcists founded in 1990 by Fr. Gabriele Amorth. Operates as the global umbrella for exorcist ministry and formation, directly comparable to the Pope Leo XIII Institute's role as the US formation hub for the same constituency.

Emerging players

• Catholic Distance University: Online Catholic university offering undergraduate and graduate theology degrees. Comparable as a Catholic-focused educational institution serving clergy and laity, though focused on distance delivery rather than in-person formation.
• Christendom College: Catholic liberal arts college and graduate school offering theology and Catholic studies programs. Comparable as a Catholic institution dedicated to formation grounded in traditional Catholic teaching.

Others

• Catholic Witness (publication) / EWTN Religious Catalogue: EWTN is the dominant Catholic media network offering books, DVDs, and online courses on Catholic spirituality including exorcism-related content. Comparable as an ecosystem partner distributing Catholic formation content at scale, though not a competing formation program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pope Leo Xiii Institute