The Conjuring films have always walked a razor-thin line between supernatural spectacle and alleged reality. Marketed as being “based on true events,” these stories pull from the real-life case files of Ed and Lorraine Warren—two of the most controversial and influential paranormal investigators in modern history. But Last Rites, the supposed final entry in the franchise, taps into something deeper, darker, and more secretive than ever before: a Vatican-linked investigation shrouded in exorcism, ecclesiastical cover-ups, and a centuries-old demonic presence.
This final chapter is not just another haunted house story. It draws heavily from real-life cases involving the Catholic Church, exorcism rites, and one mysterious case file that the Warrens allegedly helped investigate in the late 1980s—a case that, until now, remained largely unknown outside niche demonology circles. The film fictionalizes many details, of course, but its emotional and theological weight draws chilling parallels to an actual account involving a rogue priest, a “blasphemous relic,” and an alleged possession that shook a cloistered order in Italy.
In this article, we’ll unpack the real case that inspired The Conjuring: Last Rites, separating cinematic dramatization from what has been documented (and what’s been deliberately obscured). Through historical records, exorcism accounts, and commentary from demonologists and religious scholars, we piece together the unsettling reality behind the film’s darkest moments.
The Vatican and Real-Life Exorcism Protocol
Before diving into the case itself, it’s crucial to understand the Vatican’s role in real-world exorcisms. Contrary to popular belief, exorcisms are not casual practices in the Catholic Church. They require approval, training, and extensive psychological vetting. Only a select few priests are authorized to perform them, often under extreme secrecy.
In the 1980s and ’90s, the Church reportedly witnessed an uptick in requests for exorcisms, partly fueled by a growing fascination with the occult and the pop culture success of films like The Exorcist. According to former Vatican officials, some cases were so severe or so politically sensitive that they were never entered into public records.
One such case—allegedly involving the theft of a sacred relic and a series of unnatural deaths at an abbey in Southern Italy—is widely believed by paranormal researchers to be the real-world inspiration behind The Conjuring: Last Rites.
The Lost Relic of San Benedetto: The Case That Inspired the Film
The central plot of Last Rites revolves around a relic buried beneath the Vatican that holds ancient evil. This appears to be a fictionalized version of the so-called “San Benedetto Relic Incident,” a real case from 1987 in which a cross, said to contain splinters from the True Cross, was stolen from a crypt in a monastery near Naples.
Shortly after its disappearance, members of the order began experiencing vivid hallucinations, violent outbursts, and seizures. One nun was reportedly found in a catatonic state, her body displaying marks that resembled the stigmata. Internal Church memos (some of which were leaked by whistleblower priests in the early 2000s) described the case as involving “spiritual contamination” and noted that the entire order was placed under emergency lockdown.
The Warrens were allegedly consulted informally by a European exorcist who had met them at a Vatican conference on demonology in 1983. Though their presence at the scene was never officially confirmed, several accounts from religious insiders and fringe journalists claim that Ed Warren provided symbolic artifacts used in a purification ritual, and Lorraine allegedly conducted a remote “clairvoyant session” from the United States.
The Church’s Silence and the Suppressed Report
What makes this case so mysterious isn’t just the reported phenomena—it’s the intense effort to suppress it. According to leaked correspondence from Italian clerics, the Church feared not only spiritual backlash, but also reputational damage. The theft of a holy relic, demonic possession of clergy, and mysterious deaths all posed public relations nightmares.
The final report, rumored to be over 300 pages long, was allegedly sealed under Vatican confidentiality laws. Only fragments have surfaced, mostly through secondhand testimonials and anonymous letters. These suggest that a “relic corrupted by pagan hands” was believed to be at the root of the disturbances—and that whatever force had attached itself to the relic defied traditional exorcism methods.
In Last Rites, this becomes the plot’s backbone: an artifact that defies faith, and a Church desperate to bury the truth.
Artistic Liberties: What the Film Changed
While the movie clearly draws inspiration from the San Benedetto case, it shifts several details for narrative effect. The fictional relic is hidden beneath the Vatican; the real one disappeared from a monastery. In the film, the antagonist is a demonic entity tied to a centuries-old heresy. In the real case, there was never a named demon, only references to “diabolical corruption.”
Also, while Ed and Lorraine take center stage in Last Rites, their real-world involvement in the San Benedetto incident remains disputed. Skeptics argue there is no verifiable proof they were involved, while supporters point to photos of Ed Warren holding a relic that resembles the missing cross.
That said, the film’s depiction of inner-Vatican politics, theological debate, and psychological strain on the faithful seems remarkably close to real reports from clergy involved in extreme exorcism cases.
Why This Story Resonates Now
The choice to base the final Conjuring film on a Church-related case speaks volumes. In recent years, the Catholic Church has faced mounting scrutiny over abuse scandals, doctrinal conflicts, and declining membership. A story that centers not on external evil, but internal vulnerability, feels timely and powerful.
It also raises deeper questions: What happens when the institution meant to protect us becomes the source of secrecy? When relics meant to inspire faith become vessels of darkness? And when heroes like the Warrens are caught between the divine and the deeply flawed?
This case—and its film adaptation—doesn’t provide easy answers. It provides tension, discomfort, and ultimately, reflection.
Conclusion: A Real Haunting in Every Sense
Whether or not you believe in demons, the real-life story behind The Conjuring: Last Rites offers something more unsettling than jump scares—it offers ambiguity. The lines between fact and fiction, faith and fear, are deliberately blurred. It challenges audiences to confront not just the supernatural, but the institutions we place our trust in.
The San Benedetto incident may never be fully disclosed. The Vatican may never comment. But through the film, and the echoes of truth behind it, this shadowed corner of history gets a voice.
The Warrens’ last cinematic case isn’t just about casting out a demon. It’s about confronting the uncomfortable truths we hide—in the Church, in society, and in ourselves.