Clerics Transforming into Social Media Influencers
The Catholic Church is undergoing a digital renaissance, with a new generation of Catholic influencers leveraging social media platforms to evangelize, offer pastoral care, and connect with believers and seekers worldwide. This shift is exemplified by Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, who has been actively promoting the use of technology for shaping culture and countering anti-Christian messaging.
During a recent gathering in Rome, Pope Leo XIV met with 1,400 Catholic influencers and digital missionaries, emphasizing the importance of their work. The impact of social media on modern Catholicism is significant, as the Church increasingly embraces digital platforms for evangelization through a growing movement of digital missionaries and Catholic influencers.
One such influential figure is Don Cosimo Schena, a 46-year-old priest from Brindisi, who boasts over one million followers on social media. Known online as the "Poet of God's Love," Father Schena presents himself as well-groomed, sporty, and inviting, often posting motivational, spiritual, and psychological videos. Giuseppe Fusari from Brescia, known as the "Bodybuilder Priest" due to his muscular physique and tattoos, is another notable figure in this digital movement.
Pope Leo XIV has himself been an active social media user, making modern signals such as wearing a baseball cap, using a smartphone, and eating Chicago pizza. He is also expected to declare Carlo Acutis, known as the "Influencer of God" or "Cyber-Apostle," blessed in September. Acutis, who passed away at the age of 15, was a tech-savvy young man who created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles.
The Vatican now formally recognizes digital missionaries as integral to its mission. Since about 2018, the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication has actively engaged with these individuals, offering spiritual and academic formation to support their work. This includes events like the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers held in Rome in July 2025, which combined prayer, workshops, and community-building.
Pop culture has also picked up on the image of the "sexy priest," with examples such as the series "Fleabag" and "The Young Pope." However, Father Schena criticizes the conservative nature of some online Catholic influencers, stating that a middle way is what today's time requires. He emphasizes that the illness of this century is truly loneliness and that we should listen to each other more to change the story.
Studies indicate growing religious interest among young people, whether out of nostalgia, longing for community, or as a reaction to loneliness. The Catholic Church's digital presence is addressing this need, making faith accessible, relatable, and interactive beyond physical church walls. In September, Pope Leo XIV is expected to speak at the first digital youth meeting of the "National Catholic Youth Conference," where around 15,000 young people are registered.
In summary, the digital presence and influencer movement of the Catholic Church represent a dynamic effort to inhabit digital spaces not as mere publicity but as genuine pastoral and evangelizing missions. This shift is reshaping how Catholic faith is lived, shared, and experienced globally in the 21st century.
Sources: - ntv.de, Sabina Crisan, dpa - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
- In line with the Church's ongoing digital renaissance, the employment policy of the Catholic Church is increasingly focusing on cultivating digital missionaries and influencers, with lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and social-media playing crucial roles in reaching and engaging the youth.
- As a reflection of the Church's shift towards a more progressive and interactive approach, the community policy is being reformed to accommodate and foster authentic pastoral care, evangelization, and connection in the digital age.
