India, July 28 -- The Vatican is taking an unconventional route to evangelism by tapping "hot priests" with large social media followings to spread the Church's message online. More than 1,000 priests and friars have been invited to Rome amid declining congregation numbers worldwide, part of a push to reach younger generations.

As reported by The Telegraph, this unusual outreach strategy includes figures like Father Giuseppe Fusari, a bodybuilding priest from Brescia, Italy, who boasts over 60,000 Instagram followers. Fusari believes social media holds the power to bring people "closer to the Church."

The 58-year-old often shares images showing off his tattooed biceps alongside spiritual reflections, appealing to a broad age group, most...