Suspected mafia hitman mixes bleach into communion wine in bid to poison Italian priest known for speaking out against organised crime

Police are investigating after a priest almost drank bleach instead of wine during a church service in the latest in a campaign of hate and intimidation against him.

Father Felice Palamara was about to take a drink from the chalice during Holy Communion when he smelled a strong odor of cleaning product and stopped just in time.

He immediately stopped the service, as did dozens of people in the congregation at the church of San Nicola di Pannanconi, near Vibo Valentia, in southern Italy.

Police were called and the chalice was taken away for examination and officials later confirmed that it contained enough lye to have killed him.

It was the latest in a series of threats and intimidations against Father Palamara, who has been parish priest for ten years and who is said to be popular with his congregation.

He said: “Thankfully I am fine, but I am convinced that these attacks have nothing to do with the local population, as I have always got on well with them since I arrived.”

In other incidents, his car was vandalized and he received dozens of death threats by mail and email.

Detectives are linking the latest attack to another strange incident in a nearby parish where local priest Father Francesco Pontoriero found a dead cat in his car.

He has also received dozens of death threats in the mail and police are examining possible links and trawling through hours of CCTV footage from both churches.

An investigative source told MailOnline: ‘We’re not sure if this is organized crime or someone with a grudge against the church, Satanists or just eccentrics, but they are taking it very seriously.

‘The incident with the bleach could have had serious repercussions and Father Palamara could have looked very bad if he had drunk it.

“The most likely theory is organized crime and the local mafia, but until we are sure, nothing is ruled out and we are keeping an open mind.”

In a moving note to parishioners, Father Palamara said: ‘My vendetta is love, my shield is forgiveness and my armor is mercy.

‘I am serene, and I also offer mercy and forgiveness. “I hope that justice is done and there is clarity about these criminal episodes.”

Police have now been assigned to provide round-the-clock protection until the case is resolved.

Local bishop Attilio Nostro, who visited the parish at the weekend, said: ‘The diocese is experiencing a moment of suffering because of these intimidating acts that have nothing to do with the Christian life of a parish.

‘That is why I appeal to the Christian community not to be discouraged by violent language.

‘We must not give in to this logic and allow ourselves to be tempted by anger and discomfort. “We must not respond to hate with hate because we know that it is not possible to dialogue in this way.”