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Ecuador Priest Killed by Falling Crucifix During Mass
Confirmed
In Short: Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, 53, was killed when a crucifix fell from the wall behind the altar and struck him during a Mass at the Church of Perpetual Relief in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Saturday, October 17.
Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, 53, was killed when a crucifix fell from the wall behind the altar and struck him during a Mass at the Church of Perpetual Relief in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Saturday, October 17.
The incident was captured on a livestreamed video that showed the crucifix suddenly detaching from the wall and falling onto the back of Father Sánchez Molinari's head as he faced the congregation.
Witnesses can be heard calling out for help, shouting, 'Father, Father. Call an ambulance.' The priest appeared unaware of the crucifix falling until it struck him.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed his death in a statement, saying, 'Our dear Fr. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari … has departed to the Father’s House to enjoy His presence and His glory.'
The cause of the crucifix falling remains unclear, and church officials have not provided a public explanation for the incident.
Father Sánchez Molinari's former parish in Vinces mourned his death, remembering his dedication and pastoral love for the community.
Emergency services were immediately called to the scene, but first responders were unable to revive the priest.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil also noted that Father Sánchez Molinari was a member of the Redemptorist community and expressed solidarity with his family and friends.
What this adds
The video of the incident was later taken down, but it showed the crucifix detaching and striking the priest's head.
Father Sánchez Molinari had over 4,600 followers on his Facebook page where the Mass was livestreamed.
The cause of the crucifix falling remains unknown, and no official explanation has been provided by church officials.
What's confirmed
- The Rev. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was leading services at the Church of Perpetual Relief in Guayaquil on Saturday (October 17) when the crucifix fell from the wall behind the altar and struck him, according to the Archdiocese of Guayaquil.
- In a tragic incident, a priest in Ecuador died after a large crucifix fell on him during a livestreamed Mass.
- The Archdiocese confirmed his death in a statement, saying, "Our dear Fr. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari … has departed to the Father’s House to enjoy His presence and His glory,".
- Before serving in Guayaquil, he was the parish priest at San Lorenzo in Vinces, in Ecuador’s Los Ríos province.
- The Archdiocese of Guayaquil, a coastal city 265km southwest of the capital Quito, identified the priest as Patricio Alfredo Sanchez Molinari of Perpetuo Socorro Church.
- The Archdiocese of Guayaquil later issued a statement on Facebook, confirming the priest's death on Saturday, saying he "has left to the House of the Father to enjoy his presence and glory."
- It remains unclear what caused the heavy crucifix to detach and fall from the wall, and church officials haven’t publicly provided an explanation for the incident.
- The incident occurred at the Perpetuo Socorro Church in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 17.
What's still developing
- One follower’s reply to the post revealed some of Molinari’s eerie final words and called for people not to ascribe divine intervention to the “tragic accident”.
- “Friends, what happened affects us all,” the follower said.
- The Mass was livestreamed on the priest's Facebook page where he has over 4,600 followers.
- Related video: Man falls 120 feet into water at Glacier National Park Roman Catholic priest Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, of Perpetuo Socorro Church, was seen on video speaking to congregants when a heavy crucifix appeared to detach from the wall, striking the priest on the head.
- The Catholic priest who was killed by a falling crucifix over the weekend in Ecuador had been giving a sermon about the fleeting nature of life just before the freak accident was caught live on camera.
- The Archdiocese also noted that Sánchez Molinari was a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a religious order of priests and brothers dedicated to missionary work, preaching and serving disadvantaged communities that was founded in 1732.
- The service was being broadcast live online, and footage captured the shocking moment the crucifix toppled forward... striking the priest near the altar as he addressed worshippers.
- "Rest in peace." It's not known at this time what caused the crucifix to fall.