Holy deception: Rome’s ‘sexy priest’ calendar star never set foot in a seminary
ROME (AP) — A calendar featuring close-ups of young, handsome priests has been a popular Rome souvenir for two decades. However, many of those photographed aren’t actually priests. A now 39-year-old flight attendant has been the cover model for most of the last 23 editions. He was just 17 when he posed for the photo. The photographer says at least one-third of the 2027 calendar’s subjects are real priests. A recent story in the Rome daily La Repubblica called it a “fake priest calendar,†drawing nationwide attention. The Vatican, which has no involvement with the calendar, has declined to comment.
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