His name is Elio Jorge Rojas, a Franciscan friar and YouTuber. Through YouTube and a very original style, he dives into various interesting and current themes about the faith.
ELIO JORGE ROJAS
Order of Friars Minor Conventual, YouTuber
“'Grey Pilgrim' for two reasons. First, it's because I'm a Franciscan Minor Conventual, and we're pilgrims and foresters, according to St. Francis of Assisi. The other reason is that I'm a fan of Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings,' and they call Gandalf 'the Grey Pilgrim.'”
He compares the life of a Christian to the adventures of Frodo and the ring, a text that undoubtedly marked his life and that inspires his task of bringing the faith to young people.
“We coexist with holy people. The problem is that we don't realize it, or that we have a very fantastical idea of holiness, like from a film. We think saints are people who can levitate, or who speak slowly and turn their eyes upward.”
ELIO JORGE ROJAS
Order of Friars Minor Conventual, YouTuber
“I think St. Francis would have used these means to preach the Gospel. That's also what St. Maximilian Kolbe did. He was a Franciscan conventual who used the resources of his time, like the “Stampa” magazine, to announce the Gospel.”
In Buenos Aires, he had a good teacher who taught him to use that creativity and closeness to reach young people. That teacher was now-Pope Francis.
ELIO JORGE ROJAS
Order of Friars Minor Conventual, YouTuber
“I always remember when we would organize events with youth from the favelas in those poor places. He would stand on the roof of a truck and preach. He transmitted a lot of enthusiasm and strength to young people.”
His channel is called “Peregrino Gris,” “Grey Pilgrim.” There, he talks about matters from vocations and the family, to sexuality and corruption.
His charisma has carried him to an audience with a desire to learn more and more about how to live the faith today as simple pilgrims.
Daniel Díaz Vizzi
Translation: CT
