A Catholic priest, Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari, has died after a large wooden cross fell on him while he was celebrating Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
According to the Associated Press and the Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo on Sunday, the incident took place on Saturday during a service that was being livestreamed on social media.
The priest was standing at the altar when the cross hanging behind him came loose and struck him on the head.
The Associated Press reported that footage of the service showed “a heavy crucifix detaching from the wall above the altar and striking Sánchez on the head as he celebrated Mass.”
Per the AP report, the priest seemed not to notice the cross falling, while worshippers cried out for help as the broadcast went on.
In its report published on Sunday, El Universo said, “Un sacerdote murió tras la caída de una enorme cruz de madera sobre su “cabeza”—meaning a priest died after a huge wooden cross fell on his head.
The newspaper reported that Sánchez Molinari was celebrating Mass when the cross hanging above the altar came loose during a prayer.
It added that worshippers attempted to help him and frantically called for an ambulance. The incident was captured on record because the religious service was being streamed on social media.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed the priest’s death and identified him as a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a Roman Catholic religious order.
The AP said the congregation was founded in 1732 and is present in 80 countries.
El Universo also reported that the Archdiocese expressed solidarity and condolences to the Redemptorist community, as well as to the priest’s family and friends.
According to El Universo, the priest had previously served for several years at San Lorenzo de Vinces Parish, which the outlet reported also mourned his death.
The circumstances that caused the cross to come loose from the wall had not been officially established in the reports available at the time of publication.
The Associated Press reported that local authorities had not commented on the incident.
