A priest died after being struck by a large crucifix mounted on the wall while celebrating Mass at a church in Ecuador. The moment was captured in a social media livestream, shocking the country.
According to NBC News and other foreign media on the 18th, the accident occurred on the evening of the 17th at Perpetuo Socorro Church in the coastal city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The priest who died was identified as Patricio Alfredo Sanchez Molinari, 53, the parish priest of the church.
Molinari was celebrating Mass before parishioners as usual that day. During his homily, he said, "We are all going to die someday," urging the congregation to reflect on what matters in life.
He said people should devote more time to God, their families and the people they love, rather than spending excessive time on their phones or on daily routines.
But as he continued praying with parishioners after finishing the homily, the unexpected accident happened. The massive crucifix mounted on the wall behind him suddenly fell. It struck the back of his head, and he collapsed on the spot.
The Mass was being livestreamed on social media at the time. As a result, the footage captured everything from the moment the crucifix fell to the priest collapsing.
Parishioners at the scene screamed at the sudden accident. Some rushed to help the priest, while others shouted for an ambulance to be called.
The livestream was then cut off. Emergency responders were called, but Molinari ultimately died.
After news of the accident spread, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil issued a statement in the name of Cardinal Luis Cabrera mourning the priest. The archdiocese said he had "departed for the Father's house to enjoy his presence and glory," and offered condolences to his family, friends and the Redemptorist congregation to which he belonged.
A memorial Mass was held on the 18th, the day after the accident, at the church where he had celebrated Mass during his life. Fellow clergy and parishioners mourned him, saying they prayed that "the Lord would welcome him into heaven with infinite mercy and give comfort and strength to all who grieve his death."
The exact reason the large wall-mounted crucifix suddenly fell has not yet been determined. Some have noted that inspections of the crucifix's mounting condition and installation structure are needed to establish the cause.