Amen, Handsome: How the “Calendar of Hot Priests” Became the Vatican’s Top Souvenir and a Gay Fetish Object

For more than 20 years, the kiosks around St. Peter’s Square have been selling the *Calendario Romano*—a collection of black-and-white portraits of young men in cassocks. The Vatican cringes at the sight of it, tourists snap up copies, and Doberman.media investigates why this calendar has become a cult classic in gay culture and who is actually posing in the photos.

What kind of calendar is this?

If you've been to Rome, you've seen it at every other newsstand, right next to the magnets and postcards. Roman Calendar — This is a classic A4-sized flip calendar. Inside are 12 black-and-white photographs of men in church vestments. They are young, with impeccably trimmed hair, and their gazes are often directed anywhere but at the crucifix.

The press has long dubbed it the “Hot Priest Calendar.” It’s Italy’s answer to the calendar featuring Australian firefighters, only instead of bare chests, it showcases the austere aesthetics of Catholicism—which, as it turns out, is just as arousing.

How did it come about (and why is the Vatican furious)?

The project was conceived by Venetian photographer Piero Pazzi. The first issue was published in 2003. The concept has remained unchanged ever since: Pazzi states that his goal is “to promote Rome and Catholic values.”

However, the official Church did not approve of this “promotion.” The Vatican press office has repeatedly stated that the calendar is a private initiative and that the Church has not given its blessing for the use of its brand. But they cannot ban sales: the law does not prohibit photographing people in cassocks on city streets.

^{Photo by Piero Pazzi from *Calendario Romano*}

Are there really real priests there?

In short: not everyone. That’s the main intrigue. For decades, Piero Pazzi has perpetuated the legend that he captures young pastors and seminarians on camera right on the streets of Rome or Seville. However, it eventually came to light that some of the “holy fathers” were actually professional models. Most of the photos in the calendar have remained unchanged for decades. Piero Pazzi (the author) identified the ideal archetypes back in the early 2000s and has been making the most of them ever since.

For example, the legendary "The Cookie Guy" (March in the classic versions) hasn't aged in fifteen years—the author just keeps reusing the best shots. This photo is an absolute hit.

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Fact: A few years ago, one of the people featured in the calendar turned out to be a real estate agent who just happened to be walking by and agreed to pose.

Calendario Romano is pure queer fetishism packaged as a “tourist souvenir.” It plays on contrasts in a classic way:

In the context of glossy photography, the image of a person who has taken a vow of celibacy is automatically interpreted as a sexual provocation and forbidden fruit.

Of course, there’s a certain theatricality to the cassocks, wide-brimmed Saturn hats, and dramatic shadows—all of which make this calendar the perfect subject for camp.

Plus, in the gay community, buying a calendar like this is a way of gently trolling an institution that has long been (and often still is) hostile toward the LGBT community.

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Where can I get it, and how much does it cost?

Despite the digital age, the calendar has a deliberately old-school feel to it Website, which looks like a throwback to the '90s.

Price: 10 euros in Rome; on the website, it's significantly more expensive—24.90 euros.

In addition to people who “aren’t in the mood for prayer,” there’s a Vatican guide inside. So if you’re caught ogling “Mr. December,” you can always say you’re just checking the Vatican Museums’ hours of operation.

You can view photos of all the guys from the 2026 Calendario Romano via the link on our Telegram channel.

If you’re planning a trip to Italy, the Calendario Romano remains the most stylish and tongue-in-cheek souvenir from the Eternal City. And if not—just know that while you’re swiping on Tinder or hanging out on Grindr, somewhere in the shadow of St. Peter’s Basilica, Piero Pazzi is on the lookout for “fresh” faces for the 2027 edition.