A nine-minute video featuring an enthused Tom Cruise extolling the brilliance of Scientology has been leaked on the Internet, angering the Church of Scientology which is now trying to delete it.

Tom Cruise apparently held the speech some four years ago when he accepted an award at an International Association of Scientologists event.

The video mysteriously appeared on the Internet several days ago and has been popping up here and there on various websites and video sharing sites. Neither Cruise not the Church of Scientology are happy with the incident.

Cruise’s remarks during those nine minutes are sure to raise a generous number of eyebrows as the actor refers to the cult’s leader David Miscavige as the Scientology equivalent of the Pope and refers to Scientologists as people especially endowed to help others.

“I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist, and it's something that you have to earn because a Scientologist has the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions,” an enthused Cruise says.

He goes on to say that, as a Scientologist, “you look at someone and know absolutely that you can help them.”

He insists that he himself is “dedicated” to changing people’s lives for the better and that he considers it a privilege and an honor to be a Scientologist.

“That's what drives me. I know that we have an opportunity to really effectively change people's lives and I am dedicated to that. I am absolutely, uncompromisingly dedicated to that.”

The 45-year-old actor also talks about those who can benefit from Scientology: criminals and drug addicts. He urges followers to unite and change the world.

“We are the authorities on getting people off drugs. We are the authorities on the mind. We are the authorities on improving conditions. We can rehabilitate criminals. We can bring peace and unite cultures.”

According to media reports, the video was never meant for wide distribution and was reserved for insiders. Perhaps fellow celebrity Scientologists John Travolta and Kirstie Alley were even present when Cruise kept his sermon.

The video leaked just days after author Andrew Morton published a controversial book in the U. S., “Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography,” in which he claims Cruise is in fact second in command of the Church of Scientology.

Morton’s allegations in the book have been denied by the Church of Scientology. And the man did not kid around. One of his claims is that Katie Holmes, Cruise’s third wife, may have been impregnated with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s frozen sperm. He even compares Holmes’ pregnancy with classic horror movie “Rosemary’s Baby.”

Cruise is now on a “mission” to recruit David Beckham and his wife Victoria. What a riot.