A reaction has been sparked in Italy by an advertisement by a 32-year-old priest for perversion supplements.

It stars Alberto Ravagnani from Milan, who is using his good looks to attract young people to the church, having more than 272,000 followers on Instagram.

In the video, posted last week, Father Alberto says dietary supplements have helped him regain his energy to continue his work: “Prayer is not enough, my little ones, that’s why: bond supplements.”

“Taking care of myself is a way of loving myself and respecting the health I have been given. You can find a link in my bio that takes you to the Bond Supplements store. Use it wisely,” the 32-year-old priest wrote in the video’s caption, adding the dietary supplements he advertised “don’t make me Superman or Jesus Christ, but they help me stay my best self.”

The video, however, caused a backlash with many accusing him of “overstepping the mark.”

“You’re crossing the line, a priest should do something else. Forgive me, but I mean it. May the Lord help you discern,” one commenter wrote. “Dear Don Alberto, you have thrown yourself into the world and that is not good for you and for us. Return to tradition, only there will you find the true path. I have you in my prayers,” added a second. “A priest who spends more time promoting his image than caring for souls has already stopped – in fact – being a priest,” a third argued. “I am speechless. I think we’ll soon see him abandon his clothes, a little too much in the world What a disappointment,” a fourth pointed out, with another commenter accusing him of “leading many souls astray” and being a “narcissist.”

For his part, the 32-year-old priest defended his choice, arguing that it was a way to raise money for his parish.

“Ask your priest how he raises money for the parish. Festivals, markets, partnerships with local businesses, etc. Here, I do the same, but on the internet,” he replied. And to a follower who suggested he ask for donations, Don Alberto replied, “I can try, but can you imagine if I ask for donations to buy cameras and make a podcast? How do you think most people would react? Don’t you think they’d bash me for having to give the money to the poor and sick? That’s not easy.”

The video prompted a reaction from the 32-year-old priest’s bishop, who, according to the Daily Mail, warned him that his ad campaigns were “inappropriate” and told him he could not repeat them without permission.

Alberto Ravagnani rose to fame in 2020 when his YouTube videos aimed at keeping in touch with young people in his parish went viral as churches were closed during the Covid lockdown and Catholics were forced to stay home instead of going to church.