A Spanish priest has been arrested after allegedly performing at least 13 exorcisms on an anorexic girl after her parents told him she was 'possessed by the devil ' . Jesús Hernández Sahagún , the official exorcist of Valladolid , is facing charges of gender violence , causing injury and mistreatment , according to local media . The rituals began in 2012 when the girl 's parents contacted Sahagún for help after being convinced she had been possessed by the devil , reported El País . Jesús Hernández Sahagún , the official exorcist of Valladolid , is facing charges of gender violence , causing injury and mistreatment , after performing 13 exorcisms on an anorexic girl . File photo . In a statement to a court in Burgos , the girl 's parents said Sahagún was aware their daughter was receiving medical treatment at the time , adding he had full access to her records . They said the priest had assured them the exorcism would not interfere with her treatment , thelocal.es reported . The ceremonies , which involved her being tied up with crucifixed placed on her head , left the girl injured - and at one point , she tried to commit suicide . But in December last year , Sahagún told El Mundo newspaper defended the exorcisms , adding he had performed more than 200 in the past four years . The archbishop of Burgos also spoken out last year , insisting the suicide attempt was not a result of the exorcisms . Pope Francis made exorcisms an official Catholic practice last year , hailing it as a 'form of charity ' He added exorcisms are ' a religious practice maintained as part of the Church 's tradition , as a right available to all the faithful ' . Pope Francis made exorcisms an official Catholic practice in July last year . The Vatican , who hailed exorcism as a 'form of charity ' formally recognised the International Association of Exorcists , a group of 250 priests in 30 countries who liberate demons from the faithful . In Spain , there are currently around 15 priests in with Church authorization to perform exorcisms .
Parents arranged for exorcisms after believing daughter was possessed . Pope Francis , from Valladolid , performed at least 13 rituals . He is facing charges of gender violence , causing injury and mistreatment .