An Italian priest with a huge online following has come under fire after promoting health supplements on social media, telling viewers that “prayer is not enough.”

Fr. Alberto Ravagnani, 32, has more than 270,000 Instagram followers and is known for using his platform to connect with young people. But his latest post, a paid partnership with wellness brand Bond, has been heavily criticized.

In the video, which shows him balancing family time, prayer, and intense workouts, he said: “Prayer is not enough, little ones, so: Bond Supplements.”

He added: “They don’t make me become Superman or Jesus Christ, but they help me to remain myself at my best.”

Many followers expressed disappointment, accusing him of putting image before vocation.

One wrote: “A priest who spends more time promoting his own image than caring for souls has already stopped, in fact, being so.”

Another told him: “Go back to tradition; only there will you find the true way. Keeping you in my prayers.”

Alberto defended his decision, saying it was a way to raise funds for his parish: “Try asking your pastor how he collects parish money. Festivals, markets, collaborations with local companies… Here, I do the same, but online.”

The Milan-based priest, ordained in 2018, first rose to fame during the COVID lockdown when his YouTube videos reached hundreds of thousands of viewers.

But reports suggest his bishop has since warned him that advertising deals are “inappropriate” and must not be repeated without approval.