A Catholic priest died on Saturday after a large wooden crucifix fell on him during a live-streamed Mass at a church in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with the accident unfolding in front of worshippers both inside the church and watching online.
Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was celebrating Mass at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Church, also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, when the heavy crucifix mounted on the wall behind the altar suddenly detached and fell forward.
The cross struck the priest on the head, pinning him against the lectern and knocking him out of view of the camera. Parishioners immediately screamed for help as the livestream continued.
“Father, Father … call an ambulance,” a woman could be heard shouting in the footage. Other worshippers also called for assistance as emergency services responded to the incident.
Authorities later declared Father Molinari dead.
The livestream captured the accident and its immediate aftermath, and footage subsequently circulated widely online.
Archdiocese pays tribute to priest
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed Father Molinari’s death in a statement on Sunday, paying tribute to the priest, who served as parish priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the Central Vicariate.
“We announce that our beloved Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, who served as parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the Central Vicariate, has departed for the Father’s House to rejoice in His presence and glory,” the statement said.
The Archdiocese concluded its announcement with a prayer for the priest, asking for eternal rest and for perpetual light to shine upon him.
Father Molinari belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists, a Roman Catholic religious order founded in 1732. The order operates in approximately 80 countries worldwide.
The circumstances surrounding the fatal accident remain unclear. The available account does not explain why the heavy wooden crucifix detached from the wall or whether its mounting or the church’s structure contributed to the incident.
Father Molinari’s death has prompted tributes from members of the Catholic Church.
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