Part of the roof of the church of San Francisco de Asís, known as the “Golden Church”, in the Pelourinho, in Salvador (Brazil), collapsed on February 5 in the afternoon, causing the death of a person.
Two days before, the Guardian and director of the Church and Convent of San Francisco, Fray Pedro Júnior Freitas da Silva, had informed the Superintendence of the iPhan (National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute) in Bay that had identified “a dilation in the lining of the church roof ”. Due to the “historical and artistic importance of this heritage”, the friar requested “a technical visit to evaluate the situation and take the necessary measures for its preservation.”
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The collapse caused the death of Giulia Panchoni Righetto, a 26 -year -old marketing analyst, originally from Ribeirão Preto, who was visiting Salvador as a tourist. According to Bay Military Fire Department, five other people were injured.
On February 6, the iPhan declared in A statement that “he had scheduled a technical visit to the church of San Francisco de Asís for Thursday of next week,” arguing that the Friar’s request did not indicate “an emergency situation.” In addition, the agency said that it did not receive “no notification from the municipal civil defense, the Fire Department or other authorities on possible risks.”
The iPhan also reported that, in May 2022, it issued a infringement car against the Franciscan province of Santo Antônio do Brazil, owner of the Church, due to the lack of maintenance and conservation of the temple.
A jewel of the Brazilian Baroque
The Church of San Francisco was built between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its interior is coated with gold. According to the iPhan, it is considered “one of the most unique and rich expressions of the Brazilian Baroque.” It was declared a historic monument in 1985 and is part of the Historic Center of Salvador, recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO).
In 2009, the Church was chosen as one of the seven wonders of Portuguese origin in the world in a contest carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of Portugal and the Portuguese Institute of Architectural Heritage.
Reactions and messages of solidarity
El Provincial Minister of La Province Franciscan of Santo Antônio do Brasil, Fray Rogério Lopes da Costa, Y Guardián y Director of La Iglesia and Convent of San Francisco, Fray Pedro Júnior Freitas da Silva, They issued an official note in which they described the temple as “an incalculable historical and religious value that represents centuries of faith and devotion.”
“This is a day of immense pain for our community,” they said. “We are deeply dismayed by what happened and we ask everyone to join us in prayer. In this moment of great sadness, we join in prayer for the fatal victim, by his relatives and by all those affected by this tragedy ”.
The friars also assured that “the injured are receiving the necessary attention and the competent authorities have already been notified to investigate the causes of the incident and take the necessary measures to guarantee the security of the place.”
“We trust divine providence and everyone’s solidarity to overcome this difficult moment. We appreciate everyone’s prayers and support. We are still united, sustained by hope and faith, ”they added.
Church solidarity
Salvador’s archdiocese expressed yesterday, through A statement“His deepest solidarity with the Franciscan province of Santo Antônio do Brazil, the order of the smaller friars (OFM), with the people affected by this fatality and their families.” In addition, he asked God “comfort for the mourning family and a speedy recovery for the injured.”
“The affected historical heritage has an incalculable value for humanity, since it is World Heritage of Unesco, for Brazil and for the Church,” said the Archdiocese. “It is testimony of the faith of a people and the Franciscan smaller friars, who for more than three centuries have dedicated efforts to the preservation of this work born of faith.”
For its part, the Presidency of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), which has been in the Vatican since February 4 during their annual visit to Pope Francis and various dicasteries of the Roman curia, also issued a Solidarity message.
“We join in prayer with all the faithful, especially with the victims and their families, asking God to grant strength, comfort and hope in the midst of this test,” said the CNBB. “That the faith that sustains this community is also a source of consolation and renewal. That Our Lady and San Francisco intercede for all, strengthening them in love and fraternity. ”
Ongoing research
The Civil Police of the State of Bay (PCBA) reported yesterday that the Homicide and Protection Department (DHPP) is investigating the death of the tourist.
The cause of the collapse of the church roof will be investigated together by the Federal Police and the PCBA. According to the police, a team of experts and agents moved to the scene of the accident yesterday to perform the first analyzes and “quickly and efficiently collect the initial elements about the incident.”
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in Aci digital.
Monasa Narjara
Monasa Narjara is a journalist in ACI Digital since 2022 and was a journalist in the Archdiocese of Brasilia between 2014 and 2015.