Father Luciano Felloni, an Argentinian Catholic priest known for his work in rehabilitating drug users and his social media evangelization, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 2, following a battle with cancer. He was 51.

 “With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Fr. Luciano Felloni today. Please keep Fr. Felloni and his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate this difficult time,” the Diocese of Novaliches said in a statement.

Felloni had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Metro Manila after publicly revealing in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer the previous year.

In a social media post on Jan. 17, he shared the struggles of his illness. 

“Cancer treatment is a real rollercoaster. One day you are super ok and the next you are down with fever,” he wrote.

Missionary for the poor

Felloni arrived in the Philippines in the early 2000s and was first assigned to the Mother of Divine Providence Parish in Payatas, Quezon City, one of the poorest communities in the country. 

He later served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Caloocan City, where he launched a community-based rehabilitation program for drug users at the height of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Through the Community-Assisted Rehab and Recovery Out-patient Training and Treatment System (CARROTS) program, he helped former drug users reintegrate into society by providing spiritual guidance, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities.

“Illegal drugs kill. To change and recover is the real chance to have a real life, a fulfilled life. Mahirap sa umpisa pero ‘di imposible (It’s difficult at first, but not impossible). Give yourself, your family, and your country a better version of yourself,” Felloni told the Manila Bulletin in a 2017 interview.

His commitment to social justice brought him closer to fellow clergy members, including Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David, with whom he worked in assisting widows and orphans of extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims.

“It was our common experience with EJK during the infamous drug war of the previous government that we found ourselves communicating with each other more often,” David said in a heartfelt tribute posted on Facebook.

Pope Francis connection

Felloni first gained national attention during Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines in 2015 when he shared that he personally knew the pontiff, having sought spiritual direction from him while he was still Bishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina.

David said he “would not be surprised” if the Pope personally called Felloni’s family in Argentina to express his condolences.

‘AlmuSalita’, digital evangelization

Beyond his community work, Felloni was a leading figure in digital evangelization. 

His vlog, AlmuSalita, became one of the most followed Catholic content platforms in the country.

A play on the words “almusal” (breakfast) and “salita” (word), AlmuSalita provided daily Gospel reflections and won him Male Social Media Influencer of the Year at the Catholic Social Media Awards from 2017 to 2019.

Before his passing, Felloni served as parish priest of Jesus, Lord of the Divine Mercy Parish in Mapayapa Village, Quezon City, and as the social communications director of the Diocese of Novaliches.

Cardinal David described him as a selfless servant of the Church.

“Priesthood is not about seeking our own happiness,” Felloni once told him.