Priest Killed by Falling Crucifix During Livestreamed Mass in Guayaquil
Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez died instantly after a large crucifix detached from the wall and struck him during mass at Iglesia Perpetuo Socorro in Guayaquil. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil and the municipality have opened investigations into the accident.
A Catholic priest was killed during mass in the southern Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil when a large crucifix fell from the wall and struck him on the head. Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez, parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, was leading the service at the time of the accident, which was being livestreamed.
Video footage shared on social media shows Sánchez addressing his congregation at Iglesia Perpetuo Socorro in south-central Guayaquil seconds before the crucifix detached and struck him. First responders reported that the priest was hit in the back of the head and probably died instantly. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed that Sánchez had died as a result of the accident.
In a statement, the archdiocese announced the death of «our beloved Fr. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, who served as parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the Central Vicariate,» adding that he had «departed for the Father’s House to rejoice in His presence and glory.» The statement concluded with the traditional prayer: «Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.»
Moments before he was struck, Sánchez preached about the fleeting nature of life and the importance of faith and family. «We will all die someday and we must be prepared,» he told the congregation. The remark, captured in the livestream, has circulated widely alongside footage of the accident.
The Archdiocese said it would carry out an investigation to determine why the cross, weighing an estimated 200 kilograms, detached from the wall. A spokesman for the Guayaquil Fire Department said the municipality would conduct a separate investigation. The church said that Sánchez’s body would be returned to his native Cuenca for burial.
The accident has raised questions about the safety of religious fixtures in churches that welcome large congregations and broadcast services online. The two parallel inquiries are expected to examine the mounting and structural condition of the crucifix before the collapse.
6
