The tragedy at Cevo, near Brescia, happened only three days before the late pope was to be canonised as a saint in Rome.

The victim, Marco Gusmini, aged 21, was in a group of young Catholics at the site for a ceremony ahead of the canonisation.

Witnesses said the young man was killed instantly, whereas another person was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Mr Gusmini had a minor physical disability which may have slowed his reaction to the falling cross, Italian media reports said.

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