The Rev. Angel Villaronga, a priest who was well-known in the Cuban-exile community, was killed Tuesday night from injuries he suffered in a car crash.

BY DAVID OVALLE

The Rev. Angel Villaronga has long been known as a rousing speaker who was not afraid to talk about death.

Just last Sunday, Villaronga, 79, spoke on the death of Pope John Paul II during his homily at St. Raymond Catholic Church near Little Havana, adding he likely would not be around if the pope were to be anointed a saint.

''He said we needed to be ready for the day of our own death,'' said the Rev. Jordi Rivero of St. Raymond.

Tuesday night, as Villaronga was driving on Northwest 27th Avenue near 20th Street, his car was hit by a Chevrolet that had run a red light, according to Miami police.

Villaronga was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where he later died.

The driver of the Chevrolet, whom police did not identify, was unhurt and ticketed for running a red light.

Villaronga ''was among the first religious leaders in our community to broadcast religious programming,'' Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez said in a statement. ``Father Villaronga will be missed, but his legacy will always be remembered.''

About 600 people gathered for a Mass on Wednesday afternoon at the studio for Radio Paz, the 24-hour Catholic AM radio station. There, Villaronga has hosted a daily show called Conflictos Humanos, or Human Conflicts.

Villaronga was born Sept. 15, 1925, in Spain and moved to Cuba as a child. At 12, he returned to Spain to begin religious training.

He eventually returned to Cuba as a friar shortly before Fidel Castro took power. In 1961, Villaronga arrived in Miami with a group of exiles.

He worked at the Centro Hispano Católico in Miami, helping give assistance to Cuban immigrants.

Villaronga also founded the Movimiento Familiar Cristiano, a Spanish-speaking version of Christian Family Movement. He was a longtime assistant pastor at St. Robert Bellarmine in northwest Miami.

Villaronga is survived by his sister, Vicky Rezola, and his brother, José Luis Villaronga.

A viewing will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. today at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, 2987 W. Flagler St. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the parish, followed by burial at Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Movimiento Familiar Cristiano, 480 E. Eighth St., Hialeah, FL 33010.