A Catholic priest died in Guayaquil after a large crucifix fell on him while he was leading Mass on Saturday, turning a livestreamed service into a fatal accident that many viewers saw unfold in real time. Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was struck in the head as he addressed his congregation, and the Archdiocese of Guayaquil said Sunday that he had died.
The priest was serving at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the Central Vicariate, where he was known as the parish priest of Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro. He was part of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and had been assigned to downtown Guayaquil after previously working in Vinces, Los Ríos Province.
That detail matters because the service was not private. It was livestreamed, and footage shared widely on social media captured the moment the crucifix came tumbling down on top of him. The priest had also been livestreaming Masses from his own social media profiles and YouTube channel, making his death visible far beyond the church walls.
What has not been explained is why the crucifix fell at all. No official account has said whether structural damage or faulty fittings played any part, and the cause of the collapse remains unknown. The Archdiocese said, “We announce that our beloved Fr. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, CSsR., 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,” followed by: “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.”
The congregation he served belongs to a religious order founded in 1732 by the Italian St. Alphonsus Liguori, one that is meant to focus on poor and isolated communities and now counts about 4,500 members serving in 82 countries on five continents. For now, though, the most urgent fact is simpler and darker: a priest died during Mass, and the reason the crucifix gave way is still not known.
