‘Imprudent’ priest uses inflatable mattress as altar during mass in sea

Father Mattia Bernasconi apologises for any offence after failing to find shade while on camp in southern Italy with high school students

A priest who celebrated mass in the sea using an inflatable mattress as an altar has been placed under investigation by Italian authorities.

Father Mattia Bernasconi, 36, from the archdiocese of Milan, said he had planned to hold Sunday's ceremony among the trees by the beach in Crotone, southern Italy, after he had been helping with a week-long summer camp for high school students organised by Libera, an anti-mafia organisation.