After spending about 15 days hospitalized at Hospital Madre Teresa, in Belo Horizonte-MG, the Spanish priest Rafael Azanza Pellejero, died this morning. With his health weakened, he had been facing complications after contracting severe pneumonia and, this Tuesday (05), he ended up not resisting.

Father Rafael turned 95 in October and even participated in the Diaconal Ordination of Brother Vanildo Lima Sena, ss.cc., on November 11th, but after that his health deteriorated until he was hospitalized. Brothers and friends, especially from the capital city of Rio de Janeiro where he spent a good part of his life, mourned the passing of the Spanish priest who had lived in Brazil for 69 years.

The wake will be held at the Sanctuary of Health and Peace, Church of Blessed Father Eustáquio, starting at 10:00 AM and will be broadcast live on the Padre Eustáquio Channel, as will the funeral mass scheduled for 1:30 PM. Follow along here. The priest's burial, which is also expected to take place in the capital of Minas Gerais, will be at 3 pm in the Bonfim cemetery.

Rafael Azanza Pellejero was born on October 24, 1928, in the city of Olite, province of Navarre, Spain. Baptized on the same day as his birth, Rafael entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts a month before his 12th birthday. He professed temporary vows in 1948 and perpetual vows three years later. Ordained a priest on September 13, 1953, he came on a mission to Brazil the following year, on October 26, 1954.

In Brazil, he served in several parishes of the Congregation, such as Tijuca and Campo Grande in Rio de Janeiro; São Paulo (capital); Londrina and São José dos Pinhais in Paraná. He was a vicar and parish priest, in addition to holding the positions of prior, bursar, teacher, and even provincial vicar from 1971 to 1983.

For the past three years he lived in the Padre Eustáquio Community in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, where he celebrated 75 years of religious life and 70 years of priesthood, and on October 24th he presided over the Holy Mass of Thanksgiving for his 95th birthday.