A priest in southern Italy has been arrested after he allegedly used Grindr to meet teenagers for sex.

Antonello Tropea, 44, was taken into custody this week after police found him in a car with a teenager, reports AFP

Tropea, who initially told police he was a gym teacher, reportedly had sex with young men in his car and at the rectory. He allegedly used the name "Nicola" on his Grindr profile—the same name as the patron saint of his Calabrian parish, San Nicola di Mira.

Bishop Francesco Milito is also under fire for allegedly failing to investigate complaints and telling underling to not speak to the police.

During his annual Christmas speech today, Pope Francis called out the scandals plaguing the Vatican and various priests.

"Some of these diseases became evident in the course of the past year, causing no small pain to the entire body and harming many souls, even by scandal," he said.