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Former SSPX Priest Now Tattoo Artist and Openly Gay
Confirmed
In Short: Francis Palmquist, once a priest in the ultra-traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, has embraced a new life as a tattoo artist in Pennsylvania.
Francis Palmquist, a former priest of the ultra-traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), has transitioned into a new life as a tattoo artist in Exton, Pennsylvania.
Ryan Arcia, a lifelong friend, noted that there was a 'silent competition' among young men in the SSPX parish to be the most pious, which made Palmquist feel out of place.
Palmquist began to consider becoming a priest like many young men in the SSPX, but he found the priest's version of masculinity unattainable.
In March 2024, Palmquist tattooed the tear rolling down Mary’s cheek from the famous image 'Our Lady of Sorrows' on his calf, marking his first self-tattoo in the realism style.
This tattoo, which he worked on himself, quickly became his signature piece and symbolizes his journey from priesthood to embracing his identity as a gay man.
Palmquist's transition from priest to tattoo artist has been well-documented on his YouTube channel, where he discusses his faith and sexuality.
Massimo Introvigne, a sociologist at the Center for Studies on New Religions, noted that SSPX founder Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre aimed to 'freeze the priesthood as it was in the 1950s,' emphasizing traditional roles.
What this adds
The transition from priesthood to tattoo artist is a unique narrative that highlights personal authenticity and the changing dynamics within traditional religious communities.
The tattoo artist's YouTube channel has provided a platform for discussing faith and sexuality, contributing to ongoing conversations about inclusivity within religious communities.
What's confirmed
- Francis Palmquist, a former priest of the ultra-traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), has transitioned into a new life as a tattoo artist in Exton, Pennsylvania.
- Ryan Arcia, a lifelong friend, noted that there was a 'silent competition' among young men in the SSPX parish to be the most pious, which made Palmquist feel out of place.
- Palmquist began to consider becoming a priest like many young men in the SSPX, but he found the priest's version of masculinity unattainable.
- In March 2024, Palmquist tattooed the tear rolling down Mary’s cheek from the famous image 'Our Lady of Sorrows' on his calf, marking his first self-tattoo in the realism style.
- This tattoo, which he worked on himself, quickly became his signature piece and symbolizes his journey from priesthood to embracing his identity as a gay man.
- Palmquist's transition from priest to tattoo artist has been well-documented on his YouTube channel, where he discusses his faith and sexuality.
- Massimo Introvigne, a sociologist at the Center for Studies on New Religions, noted that SSPX founder Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre aimed to 'freeze the priesthood as it was in the 1950s,' emphasizing traditional roles.
What's still developing
- But in the last four years, Palmquist’s online presence has reflected his new vocation: a dedication to his clients and tattooing craft through his business, St. Francis Tattoo “He’s a prophet for authenticity,” said C., a fan who asked to be identified by an initial only to maintain relationships with his family.
- Leaving the priesthood in 2017 was so traumatic that his brain “shut off religion,” he said.
- Tattoo artist Francis Palmquist shows a tattoo on his leg that he worked on himself, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Exton, Penn. (RNS photo/Joe Lamberti) Growing up in Belmont, North Carolina, a Charlotte suburb, Palmquist doesn’t remember being interested in religion when his family attended the most common Catholic liturgy, known to traditionalists as the Novus Ordo.
- Tattoo artist Francis Palmquist at his work station inside Creatrix Collective, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Exton, Penn. (RNS photo/Joe Lamberti) Arcia said he never wondered whether Palmquist might be gay — even when he was “sticking up” for his friend when other boys called him feminine.
- In some traditionalist circles, Palmquist’s story — from SSPX priest to his two-year stint on YouTube discussing the faith and being gay — is already infamous.
- The journey to this point — where Palmquist, 37, is fully “being myself,” living with his partner and throwing himself into his art — has not been easy, he recalled to RNS during an August interview at the tattoo studio in Exton, Pennsylvania where he works.
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