A Polish priest accused of a brutal killing involving an ax and fire is now the subject of a Vatican defrocking request.

According to NBC News, the archbishop of Warsaw has formally requested that the Vatican dismiss a priest from the clergy following charges that he murdered a homeless man with excessive violence.

The dramatic sequence unfolded late Thursday, when authorities say Mirosław M., a priest in Poland whose full name is withheld due to privacy laws, was in a car with 68-year-old Anatol Cz. near the city of Radom.

According to investigators, an argument erupted between the two men related to a donation arrangement the priest had made with the homeless man. The agreement reportedly involved providing lifelong housing and personal care for Anatol Cz.

The dispute allegedly intensified over the issue of future housing, culminating in a violent attack. Authorities believe the priest struck the elderly man on the head with an ax in the course of the confrontation.

Gruesome act draws quick response

Following the blow to the head, prosecutors say the priest poured a flammable liquid over the victim and set him on fire. Investigators report that he fled the scene when he noticed a cyclist approaching.

Aneta Góźdź, spokesperson for the Radom District Prosecutor’s Office, stated that the cyclist discovered the victim engulfed in flames and immediately alerted emergency services. First responders arrived at the scene shortly thereafter.

A subsequent autopsy revealed catastrophic injuries. According to Góźdź, the autopsy showed that the deceased man had sustained burns covering 80% of his body and had also received fatal blows from a heavy, sharp-edged object.

Church distances itself from the suspect

On Saturday, Warsaw Archbishop Adrian Galbas responded to the growing crisis by formally petitioning the Holy See to defrock the priest. This is the most severe punishment under church law for someone in the clergy.

The archbishop also addressed members of the Warsaw archdiocese ahead of the Vatican request. In a message delivered Friday, Galbas expressed deep sadness over the tragedy and offered prayers for the victim and his loved ones.

He assured the public that the Church in Warsaw would fully cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutors during the course of the investigation. The Vatican has not yet commented on the request or the case.

Legal consequences and the priest's detention

Prosecutors officially charged Mirosław M. on Saturday with murder marked by unusual cruelty, citing the nature of the attack. According to Polish law, the priest could face a minimum sentence of 15 years and as much as life imprisonment if convicted.

The priest is currently being held in pretrial detention. No date for the trial has yet been announced, but authorities have made clear that the investigation is ongoing.

This case has drawn substantial national attention in Poland, where the relationship between the Catholic Church and civil authorities has at times proven sensitive. The Church’s swift move to request defrocking may signal a desire to address the issue with transparency.

Faith community left in shock

Members of the local Catholic community were encouraged by Archbishop Galbas to join together in prayer. He called the incident devastating and committed to spiritual support for those affected.

The combination of an alleged violent act by a religious figure and the gruesome circumstances of the killing has stirred widespread concern. Many see the Church’s steps in this instance as both unusual and urgent.

Authorities continue to collect evidence, while the Vatican considers the defrocking petition. Legal proceedings are expected to continue per the Polish criminal process.