One of Italy’s best known priests has announced his intention to leave the priesthood. Father Alberto Ravagnani, a so-called “influencer priest”, has millions of views on YouTube, nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram, and nearly 150,000 on TikTok. He was also involved in the Jubilee of Catholic Digital Missionaries and Influencers held in Rome during last year’s Holy Year.
Ordained in 2018, Ravagnani was initially posted to the quiet town of Busto Arsizio in Varese and then to the more prominent San Gottardo al Corso in Milan, where he ministered alongside two other priests. Around this time, he began to use modes of engagement less traditionally associated with the priesthood, with his use of social media being a central part of this. He also began to wear civilian clothes, explaining that he “had to be willing to give up the uniform to get closer to people”. He also had a public back-and-forth with Fedez, one of Italy’s best known pop artists, which resulted in Fedez blocking the priest on Instagram after their communication soured.
Ravagnani’s Instagram account displays a life mixed with secular influences, such as skincare, dancing and photos of himself at the gym, alongside religious-themed content. A post from August shows him visiting London, with photos of his food alongside a visit to the London Oratory and Holy Trinity Brompton. However, it was a September post last year which caused the most controversy for the priest. In a video which showed him in various different settings, including praying in a church, the priest posted a “paid partnership with Bondsupplements” with the caption “Holy yes, but also healthy”. The post sparked significant backlash, with his diocese expressing concern. However, Ravagnani defended his actions, asking: “For parish activities, if the roof needs to be redone, fundraisers are held, collaboration with companies is requested, sponsors are put on the vans: how can I raise money for online evangelisation activities if I have to do a podcast, need video equipment or collaborators?”
The priest’s resignation was announced at the evening Mass with a text signed by the Vicar General, Mgr Franco Agnesi, saying that “the suffering that such a decision causes so many people can become, above all, an opportunity for prayer and trust in the Lord.” The priest also released a video on Sunday announcing the decision on his Instagram, with the caption: “Thank you all for the love. The YouTube video will be up in a few days. I’ll take my time. Talk to you soon!”
The question of “influencer priests” has drawn considerable and widespread attention in recent years, with the Vatican hosting a gathering of over 1,000 priests for the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers last year. Whilst it is clear that in some cases priests using modern media has had remarkable success in evangelisation, questions remain over the extent to which, and under what conditions, this should take place.
