Prayers, pets and poetry: new breed of influencer priests to meet in Rome

Mixing prayer and gospel with poetry, pets and bodybuilding, the rising stars in the influencer world are not only those flaunting fashion and travel but also Roman Catholic priests spreading the word of God.

- Angela Giuffrida

Pope Francis latched on to the trend and, just months before his death in April, made the mission of evangelising on social media a priority for the church.

Now, 1,000 priests and friars from all over the world are preparing to meet in Rome for the first holy gathering dedicated to digital missionaries and Catholic influencers. It is part of the jubilee, a year-long period of reflection and penance organised by the church every 25 years.