He Had 300,000 Followers and Wore the Collar: Now He Says the Church's Rules on Sex Are 'Inhuman'

Italian Influencer Priest Don Alberto Ravagnani Quits Priesthood Over Catholic Celibacy Stance

Don Alberto Ravagnani, a Catholic priest in Milan with 300,000 Instagram followers, has renounced his vows because of the Church's stance on celibacy and relationships. Dubbed the "influencer priest," Ravagnani was ordained at 25 after coming to faith at 17. He gained a massive online following during the pandemic and participated in the Vatican's Jubilee of Catholic Digital Missionaries and Influencers. "I find it hypocritical that my affectivity, my sexuality and my ability to have a relationship with someone else is not considered beautiful," Ravagnani stated. He admitted he "couldn't really respect" the Church's teaching on celibacy and called the expectations placed on clergy "inhuman." Ravagnani says he will continue his mission with young people and his writing outside the priesthood. "My heart will be the same," he said.

Catholic Church Faces Growing Pressure as Young Priests Challenge Celibacy Rules

The Crusader's Opinion

The priesthood is not a lifestyle brand. It is a sacrifice. For two thousand years, Catholic priests have embraced celibacy as a gift to God, not a burden imposed by bureaucrats. When a priest with 300,000 followers calls Church teaching 'inhuman,' he is not just leaving the priesthood. He is telling a generation that sacrifice is too hard, that the cross is too heavy. Christ never promised the path would be easy. He promised it would be worth it.

Take Action

• Pray: Pray for Don Alberto Ravagnani, for the young people he influenced, and for priests struggling with their vows.
• Share: Share this story as a conversation starter about the cost of following Christ's call.
• Reflect: Consider what sacrifices God is asking of you. Are you willing to embrace them?
• Act: Support and encourage your local priests. They carry burdens most people never see.