Priest killed by falling cross during Mass in Ecuador

A Roman Catholic priest in Guayaquil, Ecuador, died Saturday after a heavy crucifix came loose from the wall above the altar and struck him during an evening Mass that was being broadcast live on social media, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil said.

The archdiocese identified the priest as Rev. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, the parish priest of Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) Church, and confirmed his death in a statement on Sunday, The Associated Press and The Independent reported. He was a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists, a Catholic religious order founded in 1732 that works in about 80 countries, according to the AP.

Footage from the livestream showed the crucifix detaching from the wall behind the altar and striking Sánchez on the head as he faced the congregation, the AP reported. He did not appear to see it falling.

Worshippers rushed to help him as the broadcast continued. People could be heard calling for an ambulance before the stream cut out, The Independent reported. Emergency services were called to the church, but first responders were unable to revive him. It was not clear whether he died at the scene or later.

In its statement, the archdiocese said the priest “has left to the House of the Father to enjoy his presence and glory,” and shared a prayer for the dead in Latin. It said a Eucharist in his memory was scheduled for Sunday evening.

The archdiocese did not say what caused the crucifix to fall or whether there would be an investigation. Local authorities had not commented on the incident, the AP reported. The video was later removed from the priest’s page, though it continued to circulate online, according to NBC News, as cited by The Independent.

Sánchez’s age was not released.

Guayaquil, a Pacific port and Ecuador’s largest city, lies about 265 kilometres southwest of the capital, Quito. Ecuador is a predominantly Catholic country, and the death drew wide attention after clips of the livestream spread on social media over the weekend, with the phrase “catholic priest killed by cross” drawing more than 10,000 Google searches in Canada over the past day, according to Google Trends.

The Redemptorists, whose formal name is the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, were founded in Italy by St. Alphonsus Liguori and are known for parish missions and devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the title of the Guayaquil church where Sánchez served.

Further details on funeral arrangements had not been announced as of Monday.

If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom with no corporate parent.

Sources: The Associated Press via The Canadian Press and ABC News; The Independent.