Italian nuns set up inflatable church to save the souls of beach bums

Italian nuns are hoping to lure beach bums to pray instead of sunbathe this summer by setting up an inflatable church and convent in Molise on the Adriatic coast.

The 100-foot-long church will be set up on Saturday and is to be manned by a team of priests waiting to hear confession, give mass and sing holy music.

"There will be four or five people singing, with music about God," said Chiara Facci from the Catholic group Sentinelli del Mattino, which is putting up the blow-up church.



A night-time mass, competing with the more worldly attractions of local night clubs and bars, will take place between 10pm and 1am.

The inflatable church is not the only such effort. Near Naples a group of nuns have relocated to beach cabins to help tourists say the rosary with an altar set up between tents.

"The concept of a beach-convent is something that is appreciated by vacationers and the nuns themselves," said priest Antonio Rungi.