A Catholic priest in Ecuador has died after a large wooden crucifix detached from a church wall and struck him while he was celebrating Mass, in an incident captured during a live broadcast.
Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was conducting the service at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Guayaquil on October 17, 2026, when the cross suddenly fell from its position above the altar.
Video footage from the livestream shows the crucifix falling towards the priest, prompting worshippers to rush to his assistance.
According to Ecuadorian broadcaster Teleamazonas, parishioners immediately called for an ambulance before the church’s livestream was brought to an end.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil subsequently confirmed the priest’s death in a statement signed by Cardinal Luis Cabrera Herrera, expressing sorrow over the tragedy and offering prayers for his eternal rest.
The circumstances surrounding the crucifix’s collapse remain unclear. Church authorities have not established what caused it to detach from the wall or disclosed whether Father Sánchez Molinari died at the scene or after receiving medical attention.
The priest, originally from Cuenca in southern Ecuador, belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists.
Before taking up his assignment in Guayaquil, he had served for several years at San Lorenzo Parish in Vinces, Los Ríos province, where members of his former congregation joined other Catholic communities in mourning his death.
His passing came just a day after the archdiocese commemorated the anniversary of his priestly ordination.
In a particularly poignant moment during his final Mass, Father Sánchez Molinari had encouraged Christians to dedicate more time to God and their families instead of allowing work, financial pursuits and daily concerns to dominate their lives, according to Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo.
Following his death, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil and the Redemptorist congregation announced a memorial Mass scheduled for October 18 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, where the fatal incident occurred.
