A Catholic priest was crushed to death by a massive wooden crucifix that fell on him during a live-streamed Mass in Ecuador.
Patricio Sanchez was leading the service at Perpetuo Socorro Church in the port city of Guayaquil on Saturday afternoon when the heavy cross mounted on the wall behind him suddenly appeared to detach.
Shocking footage showed the structure tipping forward and crashing onto the back of the priest’s head, forcing him onto the altar table in front of him.
Sanchez had reportedly just adjusted his glasses moments before the tragedy unfolded, around 27 minutes into the livestream.
Churchgoers immediately rushed to help the priest, who had become trapped beneath the cross. However, he died following the impact.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guayaquil later confirmed his death in a statement, expressing condolences to his religious community, relatives and friends.
“We inform you that our beloved Father Patricio Alfredo Sanchez Molinari, who served as parish priest of the Perpetual Help church in the Central Vicariate, has departed for the Father’s House to enjoy his presence and glory,” the statement read.
The archdiocese also offered prayers for his soul and expressed solidarity with the Redemptorist community.
Tributes subsequently poured in on social media, with friends and former classmates expressing shock and sadness over his death.
One former schoolmate, David Pazos, wrote: “My schoolmate. May he rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to family and friends.”
Another social media user described the incident as surreal, while others expressed disbelief at the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Sanchez was a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a Catholic religious order founded in Italy in 1732 that now serves in more than 100 countries worldwide.
The priest’s age has not been disclosed. Local media reported that police were not investigating the incident at the time of publication.
