Giovanni Galizia, now 39, confirmed he has never been a priest despite starring as a supposed priest on the cover of the widely sold "Calendario Romano" tourist calendar in Rome [1, 2]. The calendar features a different "priest" for each month and sells for over €10 (about US$11.65) to visitors [1, 2].
Galizia told Repubblica daily that the photo on the calendar was taken in 2004, when he was 17, during a playful shoot arranged by a photographer in Palermo. "At one point, he asked me if I wanted to participate. It was a game; he had everything ready, including the priest outfit," Galizia said [1].
He emphasized, "What I can assure you is that I was never a priest," dismissing any real clergy connection to the photo [1]. He also stated he did not receive any payment for the shoot [1, 2].
Galizia expressed surprise at his unintended fame linked to the calendar, adding that "friends who visit the capital always send me a photo of the calendar" [1]. Despite his well-known image in Rome, he said he can remain incognito outside the city [1, 2].
He believes other models portraying priests in the calendar may also be non-clergy, though that assertion is less certain [1, 2]. Currently, Galizia works as a flight attendant instructor [1, 2].
The 22-year-old photograph continues to circulate widely in souvenir shops across Rome, drawing tourist interest for its playful blend of religious imagery and popular culture [1, 2].
Galizia's public interview about the photo's background, given on either May 18 or 19, 2026, clarifies long-standing rumors about the calendar's authenticity [1, 2].
