Man, 72, arrested over Vic priest stabbing

A 72-year-old man has been arrested after a Melbourne priest was stabbed in the neck in an apparently racist attack.

The Fawkner man was being questioned on Sunday night following the attack in the church foyer of St Matthew's Parish in Fawkner on Sunday morning.

A man armed with a knife stabbed Rev Tomy Kalathoor Mathew, 48, moments before the priest was due to say the 11am Italian-language mass.

It's believed the offender took issue with the priest's Indian heritage and accused him of being a Hindu or a Muslim.

"This is appalling behaviour and people should never be treated like this," Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne spokesman Shane Healy told AAP.

Vicar General Monsignor Greg Bennet said the priest was doing well in hospital and wanted to get back to work soon.

"His thoughts are only for his parishioners," he said.

Before the man was arrested, police told reporters they believed the incident was isolated.