Video featuring Italian actor Nancy Brilli, who has defended the choice of women to undergo cosmetic surgery, came under fire in North America

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The Vatican’s culture minister has acknowledged that his office must expand its horizons after a promotional video for a Vatican women’s conference featuring a sexy Italian actor was ridiculed in North America.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said the criticism that compelled him to remove the English version of the video came from both liberal and conservative wings of the church, including from bishops. Some complained it was not feminist enough and others said it was so liberal it was “unworthy of a church initiative”.

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The video features actor Nancy Brilli asking women to contribute clips of their lives for broadcast at a meeting of Ravasi’s Pontifical Council for Culture this week.

At a news conference on Monday, Brilli defended the video and also the choice of women to undergo cosmetic surgery.