Why are we so fascinated by priests?

Maybe it’s the allure of the uniform or, more precisely, the cassock. Priests are having a moment, especially when they’re young and attractive. From the hot priest in Fleabag, played by Andrew Scott, to Josh O'Connor in the upcoming Knives Out franchise film (behind-the-scenes shots have already dropped and caused a stir), priests are in vogue. It’s easy to say, of course, when we’re talking about priests played by trending actors, social media’s boyfriends of the month. But the charm of the robe goes beyond the obvious and takes on stranger dimensions. Just think of the internet’s reaction to the Oscar - and David di Donatello - nominated film Conclave, and to the real conclave that wrapped up in Rome just a few days ago.

The Hot Priests of Conclave, the conclave, and Beyond

A passionate crowd of users from around the world has gathered under the banner of the Twitter account Pope Crave, praising Sergio Castellitto as the German Cardinal, Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, and Carlos Diehz as the outcast, Cardinal Benitez. According to the fandom, these cardinals and characters are alluring and mysterious. It’s fun to imagine them as young men, digging up and photoshopping old pictures of the actors from their earlier roles, reimagining them in a fan fiction universe that endlessly regenerates, always providing new inspiration and material. Given the timing, people (and not just them) also found themselves zooming in on real priests in Rome and in St. Peter’s Square for the election of the new pope. Social media feeds filled up with images of more or less youthful and striking priests who had come to the capital to welcome the new representative of Catholicism. It’s no secret. In Rome, they’ve known this for years. That’s why souvenir shops sell handsome priest calendars. Though, let’s be honest, it’s usually the same priests every year. Perfect gift for grandma?

Why are we attracted to priests (and Cardinals)?

The question still lingers: what is it about a priest that evokes erotic desire? Maybe it’s the appeal of the forbidden, the heretical, the man who has renounced carnal pleasure, and who therefore seems otherworldly - unreachable, stoic - compared to the men we usually deal with. A calling remains something almost magical, hard to explain, that both attracts and unsettles us because it defies rationality. A priest, at least in theory, should be especially kind and in touch with his inner world: the ideal man, if only it weren’t for that one small issue of having dedicated his life to religion. In short: maybe it’s the desire to lure him away from his calling, to compete with the divine (even subconsciously and without being too blasphemous), to meet a different kind of man, forbidden, unfamiliar. In the biblical sense (and forgive the pun), at least.