Many Italians feel "growing disgust" over the portrayal of the Catholic Church in their country's media, according to the head of the Italian bishops' conference, Monsignor Angelo Bagnasco.
The prelate, who was last week named a cardinal, said the Church was frequently ridiculed in the Italian media and its values treated with "sarcasm".
"A day doesn't go by without a negative judgment, without real or presumed events regarding the Church being highlighted," Msgr Bagnasco said in an interview with Catholic weekly Il Consulente Re.
"I sense a growing disgust in many people over the messages that we receive every day," he added.
Among the Church-related news covered by the media in recent months is the case of Don Piero Gelmini, a "celebrity" priest, founder of an organisation with more than 280 drug rehabilitation centres around the world.
It emerged in August that he is under investigation in central Italy for alleged paedophilia.
The Church often comes in for criticism in the Italian press when it speaks out on issues such as euthanasia, same-sex marriage and contraception.
It is frequently accused of interfering in Italian politics.
Msgr Bagnasco said the "attacks" reflected irritation in some circles that the Church was still a "key reference point" for many Italians.
He said he was confident the nation would have the "good sense" to see beyond the media portrayal.
