A Catholic priest has died after a heavy wooden crucifix mounted behind the altar fell on him while he was celebrating Mass at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Church in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The incident occurred during a service being broadcast live on Facebook and was confirmed by the Archdiocese of Guayaquil.
The priest, identified by the archdiocese as Fr. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, was leading the evening service when the crucifix suddenly detached from the wall and struck him on the head. Reports from Ecuadorian media placed the incident about 27 minutes into the broadcast.
Footage of the service shows the large structure falling as the priest stood at the altar. Worshippers reacted with alarm, and people inside the church could be heard calling for help and asking that an ambulance be summoned. The livestream subsequently ended.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed Sánchez Molinari’s death in a statement issued on Saturday. The announcement expressed condolences to his family, friends and fellow members of the religious community, while offering prayers for his repose.
Sánchez Molinari was the parish priest at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the English name for Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro. He belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists, a Catholic religious order founded in 1732 that carries out pastoral and missionary work internationally.
The cause of the crucifix’s fall has not been established publicly. As of Sunday, October 18, reports citing the Associated Press said local authorities had not commented on the incident. There has been no confirmed public explanation indicating whether the fall resulted from a problem with the wall mounting, the structure itself or another factor.
The tragedy has drawn attention because the service was being streamed online, allowing viewers to witness the incident as it unfolded. Reports from Ecuadorian media said the accident occurred during a prayer, bringing the religious ceremony to an abrupt and distressing end for those gathered in the church.
Sánchez Molinari’s death has left the local Catholic community mourning a priest who served as the head of the Guayaquil parish. Beyond the immediate loss to his congregation and religious order, the incident has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the failure of a large structure installed above an active worship area. Until relevant authorities or church officials provide further details, however, the precise cause of the accident remains unknown.
