GUAYAQUIL, October 18, 2026 (Agencies) – A Catholic priest, Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, died after a large crucifix fell on him while he was celebrating Mass at a church in Guayaquil, Ecuador, local media reported.
The incident occurred on Saturday at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The crucifix, mounted behind the altar, reportedly detached and struck the priest during the religious service.
Congregants rushed to help him following the incident, but he succumbed to his injuries. Footage of the incident was reportedly captured during a livestream of the Mass.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed the priest’s death on Sunday, expressing sorrow over the loss. Father Sánchez Molinari served as parish priest and belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists.
Authorities have not publicly established why the crucifix fell, and no official explanation for the accident was available in the reports reviewed.