WATCH: Catholic priest slaps infant across the face before baptizing him

A video posted to YouTube on Wednesday shows a Catholic priest smacking a baby moments before baptizing him.

The priest, who is speaking French, is seen blessing the baby and the child begins crying. The clergyman then tells the child to: “calm down, calm down, you must calm down.”

He grows frustrated and slaps the baby in his face. The parents hold the baby tight while pulling him away from the priest.

“He’s afraid," the child's father says.

Watch below.