A famous priest in Brazil was literally shoved off the stage by a woman right in the middle of a live-streamed Mass in front of thousands.

An unidentified 32-year-old woman from Rio de Janeiro approached Father Marcelo Rossi as he spoke to a crowd of 50,000 people at a mass during a retreat being held in Cachoeira Paulista, São Paulo, according to the Washington Examiner.

(Video: YouTube)

A now-viral video showed the woman forcefully push the priest and Grammy-nominated Latin singer off the platform as the audience gasped in horror.

The well-known Catholic figure was reportedly not hurt in the incident and had decided not to press charges, returning to the stage to conclude the service and saying he was protected by the Virgin Mary.

“The priest is well,” the church said in a statement. “He was attended by the medical staff at the event and presided over the celebration to the end.”

“All our solidarity with Father Marcelo Rossi,” Jair Bolsonaro, the president of Brazil, said in a tweet. “God looks [over] Brazil.”

– Toda nossa solidariedade ao Padre Marcelo Rossi. Deus olhe para o nosso Brasil. ??

— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) July 14, 2019

The woman, who reportedly suffers from bipolar disorder, told reporters that what had happened was “between [Rossi] and I.”

She was apparently attending the event and had brought her 3-year-old son, according to the newspaper O Dia.

“She said that she wanted to come in to talk to him and that she was scared the moment she saw the security guards running after her,” the newspaper reported. “It’s her version, but anyone who sees the pictures sees that there is none of it [security guards running after her]. She says she got scared and pushed him at a time when she kind of freaked out, lost control, but she had no intention [of hurting him], she just wanted to talk to him.”

The 52-year-old priest reportedly commented on the incident when he returned to the stage.

“It hurt, but pay close attention. I was just going to talk about pain but I did not imagine it was going to be like this,” the priest said, according to Veja, a Brazilian news magazine based in São Paulo, Newsweek reported.

The video has been viewed over 2.6 million times since it was posted five days ago.

Reports that Rossi is openly opposed to same-sex marriage and has been vocal about his anti-gay views were challenged by some who praised the so-called “pop-star priest” as a very likable person with a large youth following.

Dont know if he’s really anti-gay because we never heard of it here in Brazil! In fact hes very loved here! But if interests anyone, the woman has mental problems and the priest is fine and did not press charges against her! I’m not catholic and I dont even like him, just saying!

— Lívia Mello da Costa (@liviamellocosta) July 17, 2019

He was never ant gay, his name is “padre marcelo rossi” is a big know priest here in brazil, he sings and always are good for everywone, im not religious myself but this guy is a very nice guy.

— Gustavo Fongaro (@FongaroGustavo) July 18, 2019

“how do you know it” i live in brazil and i’ve known this priest since i was a literal child. the video above was something that happened this week and it was all over the news here. the woman pushed him because she’s mentally ill.

— eri // zero gravity! ? (@hoshiwotadoreba) July 18, 2019

It gets even worse when you discover he’s a pacifist, has depression and does lots of charity to raise awareness on depression and isn’t anti gay. He didn’t even press charges against her. He’s a very beloved priest in Brazil and everyone I know is mad now

— Albine Fox (@Albine_Fox) July 18, 2019

what? Marcelo is a mega-famous priest in Brazil, yes, but he’s not famous for being anti-gay (I mean, I guess he’s as anti-gay as any catholic priest, but it’s not his platform or something)

he’s a really humble and sweet guy

— Matheus Esperon (@esperondo) July 17, 2019

So to anyone who’s asking, the priest who was pushed is Padre Marcelo Rossi. He’s notoriously famous in Brazil for advocating against same-sex marriage. And has even gone on record to say, “a lot of ideas will change the day homosexuality is proven to be an illness.”

— elizabethnigg (@elizabethnigg) July 18, 2019

Many Twitter users just expressed their shock over the incident and the image captured on video.

As much as I’m anti religion

I’m also anti assault

— Chives Mcsleeve (@mcsleeve) July 15, 2019

A priest in Brazil was pushed offstage by a random woman.

I don’t know who he is, and quite frankly, I don’t really care. Regardless, this is absolutely inappropriate, unacceptable, & even criminal.

*She could have easily inflicted a major injury on him*pic.twitter.com/l0TeYm24e2

— ۞ ψυχολογία ۩ (@PsychologyDoc) July 15, 2019

So wrong!

— Gary Byrne Author (@GaryByrneAuthor) July 19, 2019

What is wrong with people today?

— Rod (@Rod30727964) July 19, 2019

This is horrible. Hope he’s ok.

— Karen Freebersyser (@KFreebersyser) July 19, 2019

Disgraceful

— Marie ? ?? (@MiaRogue2) July 15, 2019

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Frieda Powers

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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