Vatican enlists ‘hot priests’ to save faith

Bodybuilding friars, selfie-taking clerics, and Insta-famous dog dads to gather in Rome as church tries to win back the youth

The Vatican has invited several influencers and missionaries, referred to as “hot priests” by fans and media, to an upcoming digital evangelism summit in a bid to reach younger audiences and address declining church attendance.

The event kicks off on Monday in Rome and will bring together over 1,000 participants, including clergy, friars, and lay digital communicators. The Vatican is hoping to modernize outreach in the face of growing secularism, particularly in Europe.

The guests include several priests who have gained followings not only for their religious messages but also for their appearance and online presence – a combination that has earned them the informal nickname “hot priests,” as seen in reports by The Telegraph and The Guardian.

Among them is Father Giuseppe Fusari, a 58-year-old tattooed bodybuilder and art historian from Brescia with more than 60,000 Instagram followers. His posts often feature a blend of gym photos, scripture, and personal reflections. “I am convinced that social media is one way to attract people,” Fusari told The Telegraph.

Father Cosimo Schena, 46, posts spiritual poetry and photos with his rescue dog Storm to an audience of over 450,000. His online activity reportedly helped double attendance at his parish.

Father Ambrogio Mazza, 34, shares guitar sessions, brief sermons, and scenes from daily life with over 460,000 followers across both TikTok and Instagram.

The Vatican has not publicly addressed the “hot priest” label, but officials say the goal is to equip clergy for meaningful engagement online. The event, organized by the Dicastery for Communication, includes training on content production, digital ethics, and communicating doctrine on social media.

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The summit precedes the larger Jubilee of Youth gathering in early August and continues a digital strategy launched under Pope Francis and maintained by Pope Leo XIV.