Ecuadorian Priest Dies After Crucifix Falls on Him During Livestreamed Mass

A Catholic priest in Ecuador, Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, has died after a large crucifix fell on him while he was celebrating Mass in the city of Guayaquil.

The incident occurred on Saturday, October 17, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, also known as Perpetuo Socorro, where Sánchez Molinari served as parish priest.

The service was being livestreamed when the crucifix fell from the wall behind the altar and struck the priest on the head, according to footage described in reports by the Associated Press and other news organisations.

The incident interrupted the religious service, with worshippers heard calling for help as the broadcast continued.

The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed the priest’s death in a statement published on social media. It identified him as the parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the archdiocese’s Central Vicariate.

The statement said Sánchez Molinari had departed for the “Father’s House”, expressing the church’s condolences to his religious community, family and friends.

The archdiocese also offered a prayer for the repose of his soul.

Sánchez Molinari was a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a Catholic religious order commonly known as the Redemptorists.

The Associated Press reported that the priest was celebrating an evening Mass when the heavy crucifix detached from the wall above the altar and struck him. The agency also reported that local authorities had not commented on the incident at the time of publication.

The circumstances that led to the crucifix falling have not been established in the reports reviewed. There is no verified explanation confirming whether a structural defect, a problem with the mounting or another factor caused the accident.

The archdiocese’s statement, while confirming the priest’s death, did not provide further details about the incident or explain the precise circumstances surrounding his death.

The accident was captured during the livestream, and footage subsequently circulated on social media.

Further information about any official investigation into the incident was not available in the sources reviewed as of Sunday, October 18.