Catholic Priest in Poland Arrested in Brutal Axe Murder of Homeless Man

Archbishop Adrian Galbas of Warsaw, Poland, prays during Mass on March 13. Photo: OSV News/Courtesy Polish bishops' conference

WARSAW — A diocesan priest has confessed to the gruesome murder of a homeless man in the village of Lasopole, about 30 miles south of Warsaw, prompting widespread shock and sorrow within the Catholic Archdiocese of Warsaw.

Authorities say the 60-year-old parish priest, who has only been identified as Miroslaw M., killed the 68-year-old man — with whom he had previously signed a property donation agreement — during an argument while driving through rural roads on July 24. Prosecutors allege the priest struck the man with an axe and then set him on fire while he was still alive. The victim’s charred body was discovered around 10:20 p.m. by a passing cyclist.

Investigators quickly tracked the suspect to his rectory using vehicle registration data. Due to the priest’s possession of firearms as a licensed hunter, he was arrested by a counter-terrorism unit. Prosecutors from the Radom District say the motive stemmed from a dispute over housing arrangements related to the donation agreement, which included the priest’s promise of lifelong care for the victim.

The priest has admitted to the killing. Authorities plan to upgrade the charges to murder with “exceptional cruelty,” a classification that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The Archdiocese of Warsaw responded swiftly, pledging full cooperation with law enforcement and announcing canonical proceedings, including asking the Vatican to defrock the priest. In a deeply emotional message to the faithful on July 25, Archbishop Adrian Galbas expressed his devastation and called for diocesan-wide penance.

“I have no words of comfort for you today, let alone any explanation or justification,” Galbas wrote. “I am devastated and crushed by the news that one of my priests has brutally murdered a man — a poor and homeless man.”

Galbas said he bore “moral responsibility” for all that occurs within his jurisdiction, including this “terrible crime,” and offered an unreserved apology to the faithful.

“I ask all the priests of the Archdiocese of Warsaw to undertake personal penance and prayer of reparation starting today,” he stated, urging that reparation prayers be held after every Holy Mass across the archdiocese this Sunday.

The archbishop concluded with a somber spiritual appeal: “The blood of our murdered brother cries out to God. Let us beg God for forgiveness — and beg forgiveness from people. I myself beg for it.”

He also invited the faithful to pray for the soul of the deceased and comfort for his family.

Previously, UOJ reported that Archbishop Edward Weisenburger, who was recently appointed head of the Archdiocese of Detroit, has dismissed three veteran professors from Sacred Heart Major Seminary just months into his tenure.

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