This is the moment a Catholic priest props a figurine of the Virgin Mary against the helicopter window and blesses a city from the air amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The incident was filmed over the city of Rengo in the central Chilean province of Cachapoal after two local priests, identified as Luis Escobar and Ivan Guajardo, decided to use a helicopter to bless the wider region of O’Higgins.
The priests started with Rengo City and footage shared on Facebook by ‘Rio Claro FM’ shows one of them propping a figurine of the Virgin Mary against the window as he carried out a blessing while wearing a face mask.
According to local newspaper ‘Publimetro Chile’, before embarking the helicopter, both priests carried out an “exorcism” to rid the area of the “plague”.
Netizen ‘Juana Saavedra’ said: “God protect us, care for all of us and hopefully a vaccine is created for the good of every one.”
‘Albertina Perez Serrano’ commented: “Father Ivan, a great priest who is always worried about the people. God bless him and us too.”
According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Chile has reported 1,306 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with four related deaths and 22 recoveries.
Chilean capital Santiago went into lockdown at 1am on 26th March although residents have been self-isolating since before the decree.
Meanwhile, schools were closed on 16th March until at least May.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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