Milan priest under fire for promoting health supplements in video claiming 'Prayer is not enough'

A Milan priest with a substantial online following is facing backlash after releasing a video promoting wellness supplements, telling followers that “Prayer is not enough.” Father Alberto Ravagnani, 32, who has built a sizable audience on Instagram, is being criticized for encouraging his followers to buy health products through his social-media page.

In the video, Ravagnani walks viewers through a day in his life: time with family, prayers at a church, and intensive weightlifting sessions. He touts creatine, iso whey, and Omega-3 supplements from Bond, presenting the video as a paid partnership with the brand. The caption reads “Holy yes, but also healthy,” and Ravagnani adds in a comment that taking care of himself is a way of loving himself and respecting the health he has been given. A link in his bio supposedly directs followers to the Bond Supplements shop. The video has racked up about 450,000 views and more than 8,000 likes, and Ravagnani tells viewers that the supplements “don’t make me become Superman or Jesus Christ, but they help me to remain myself at my best.”

Ravagnani’s side project, alongside being an ordained priest since 2018, has angered some followers who say he has crossed a line. Critics accuse him of prioritizing self-promotion over pastoral care. One commenter wrote: “You are crossing the line Don, a priest must do something else. Forgive me but I mean it... [May] the Lord help you to discern.” Another said: “Dear Don Alberto, you threw yourself into the world and that's not good for you and for us. Go back to tradition, only there you will find the true way. Keeping you in my prayers.” A third follower praised his video editing but warned: “A priest who spends more time promoting his own image than caring for souls has already stopped — in fact — being so.” A different reader offered: “I am completely speechless. I think that soon we will see that he will abandon his clothes, a little too much in the world... What a disappointment.” Others accused the priest of leading many souls astray through paid content and labeled him narcissistic.

Ravagnani, who first rose to fame in 2020, has defended his decision to shoot paid advertisements, arguing that monetization can support his parish. “Try asking your pastor how he collects parish money. Festivals, markets, collaborations with local companies, etc. Here, I do the same, but online,” he told followers who questioned the move. In response to a suggestion to ask for donations directly, he 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 beat me because instead I should give the money to the poor and sick? I am not moving on easy ground.”

Ravagnani’s online activity has not gone unnoticed by church authorities. He has reportedly been warned by his bishop that his advertising campaigns were inappropriate and cautioned that he cannot repeat them without authorization. The controversy adds to a broader public debate about the role of clergy in social media monetization and the boundaries between evangelism and commercial endorsement.

Ravagnani rose to prominence during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when many churches closed and young parishioners spent more time online. He began posting YouTube videos in 2020 to maintain connection with a younger audience, and his series often featured titles like “TRAINING and EXERCISES for the spirit (going to the gym is not enough!).” The channel attracted tens of thousands of subscribers and helped him extend his reach beyond traditional parish walls. He has since described his online approach as essential to meeting young people where they are, arguing that traditional formats risked losing their attention.

While supporters say Ravagnani’s method reflects a pastor’s need to adapt to changing communication channels, critics argue that monetizing religious influence risks subordinating spiritual goals to commercial interests. They point to the timing of the Bond partnership and the prominence of the wellness message—especially the claim that “prayer is not enough”—as evidence of a shift away from purely pastoral care toward branding and audience engagement.

Observers note that the matter touches on broader questions about clergy involvement with social media, sponsorships, and the responsibilities that accompany large online followings. In Ravagnani’s case, the debate centers on whether a priest can sustain his pastoral duties while also using paid partnerships to fund parish activities, and whether such endorsements may blur the line between spiritual leadership and commercial influence. Supporters argue that outreach in the digital age requires creativity and financial support to sustain parish work, while opponents urge a clearer separation between religious leadership and advertising.

In sum, Ravagnani’s latest decision to promote health supplements reflects ongoing tensions within the Catholic community about the use of social media for evangelism and fundraising. As churches navigate changing technologies, the balance between authentic spiritual guidance and contemporary marketing remains a live conversation for clergy, parishes, and their followers.