A gathering to celebrate the late Pope John Paul II's canonisation ended in disaster after a 30 metre crucifix collapsed, killing a man.

Residents of the village of Cevo in northern Italy fled as the massive wooden structure gave way, but 21 year-old Marco Gusmini was struck by the cross and killed instantly.

The structure, which features a 600 kilo statue of Jesus on a curved cross, was erected in 2005 to remember the scars left by World War II. 

According to newspaper Corriere della Sera, Gusmini lived on a street named after Pope John XXIII, who coincidentally will be canonised alongside John Paul II this Sunday.