A Catholic priest died after a large crucifix fell on him during a Mass that was being livestreamed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Saturday, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil said.
The Rev. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was the parish priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the city’s Central Vicariate. The archdiocese announced his death in a social media post and a news release.
The cause of the crucifix’s fall has not been explained.
What We Know So Far
Video of the Mass shows Sánchez Molinari standing behind the altar, facing the congregation, as the crucifix hanging on the wall behind him fell forward and struck the back of his head. He did not see it coming. He did not get up, and parishioners can be heard crying out as some rushed to help him.
The livestream was later taken down, but the footage spread widely on social media.
Sánchez Molinari belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists. He was assigned to downtown Guayaquil and had earlier worked in Vinces, in Los Ríos Province, according to the local outlet Guayaquil News. He livestreamed Masses on his own social media profiles and a YouTube channel.
A Mass in his memory was scheduled for Sunday evening.
What Authorities Are Saying
The archdiocese wrote that its “beloved” priest “has departed for the Father’s House to rejoice in His presence and glory,” and added a prayer for eternal rest.
No official has said whether structural damage or faulty fittings played a part in the fall. Newsweek said it emailed the archdiocese for comment outside normal working hours.
Differing Accounts
The sources differ on timing and on the church’s name. NBC News said Sánchez Molinari died Saturday, the day of the Mass. Newsweek said the archdiocese confirmed the death on Sunday. The church is called Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Newsweek’s account and the Church of Perpetual Relief in NBC News, which appears to render the Spanish name Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro in a different way.
Why This Matters
The Redemptorists were founded in 1732 by the Italian St. Alphonsus Liguori, who left a legal career to preach in poor, rural communities near Naples. The order generally serves poor and isolated communities, and today has about 4,500 members in 82 countries.
Few details about Sánchez Molinari’s life have been made public.
What Happens Next
The archdiocese has not announced an investigation or said whether the church has been inspected. It has not released funeral arrangements beyond the Sunday evening Mass.
Sources: Newsweek and NBC News
