Priest who celebrated mass in swimming trunks being investigated by judiciary

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An air mattress as an altar and the Catholic priest in swimming trunks in the sea - this unusual open-air Mass with young people in southern Italy has caused outrage. The judiciary is investigating for "denigration of a religious community", Italian media reported on Wednesday.

Mattia Bernasconi, a priest from Milan, apologised. He had only wanted to celebrate a final service with young volunteers at a summer camp and it had been extremely hot, he explained.

As there was no suitable shady place, he celebrated the service in the shallow sea water. Photographs and videos of the original service in the Mediterranean Sea quickly spread on social media. The photographs show that the air mattress was covered with a cloth and an altar boy dressed in swimming trunks prevented it from floating away.

The Archdiocese of Crotone in Calabria criticised the initiative, pointing out "that the gestures and symbols of the celebration of the Eucharist are to be respected". On social networks, however, there were also positive comments praising the priest for proclaiming the Word of God even on the beach.