Fr. Luciano Felloni, an Argentinian Catholic priest and popular vlogger who carried out his ministry in the Philippines, has passed away at 51 after a battle with cancer.
“With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Fr. Luciano Felloni today,” the Diocese of Novaliches said in a statement on Sunday, February 2.
Felloni passed away at a hospital in Metro Manila, where he had been receiving treatment in recent days, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reported.
Felloni was recognized as “Male Social Media Influencer” at the Catholic Social Media Awards from 2017 to 2019, earning him a spot in their Hall of Fame.
His vlog, AlmuSalita, a portmanteu for “almusal” (breakfast) and “salita” (word), became widely followed especially during the pandemic for its daily Gospel reflections.
The missionary priest first arrived in the Philippines in the early 2000s and was assigned to the Mother of Divine Providence Parish in Payatas, Quezon City.
He served several other poor communities in the country and notably lead a rehabilitation program for drug users in Caloocan during the Duterte administration.
In a Facebook post on January 17, Felloni reflected on the challenges of his treatment while expressing gratitude to his parishioners, fellow priests, and friends for their patience and understanding when events and activities had to be canceled due to his health struggles.
“Cancer treatment is a real rollercoaster. One day you are super ok and the next you are down with fever. So difficult to plan. Salamat sa aking mga parishioners, kasamahan pari sa bikaryato at mga kaibigan sa inyong pasensya at pangunawa sa lahat na cancel plans and activities,” wrote Felloni.
