Vatican turns to 'hot' Instagram priests to recruit new followers
The Vatican is convening over 1,000 priests, friars, and lay digital communicators in Rome this week, aiming to explore how social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, blogs and apps can bolster outreach and help reconnect with a younger demographic.
The initiative is part of a broader Jubilee of Youth programme, which begins on July 28, 2025 and includes a dedicated segment on Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers.
Leading the way are a few photogenic clerics whose large online followings aren't just about appearances - they represent a new wave of evangelisation.
Influencer priests making waves online
Father Giuseppe Fusari, 58-year-old from Brescia, is both a classically trained art historian and a bodybuilding priest with more than 60,000 Instagram followers.
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