GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — The family of Redemptorist priest Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, who d!ed after a large wooden crucifix fell on him during a livestreamed Mass, has broken its silence, urging authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic accident.
Father Sánchez Molinari, 53 (or 52 according to some reports), was celebrating Mass on the evening of Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) Church in Guayaquil when the heavy crucifix mounted on the wall behind the altar suddenly detached and struck him on the head. He collapsed and was pronounced d3ad later that day. The service was being livestreamed, and footage of the incident circulated widely online before being taken down.
In the moments before the cross fell, the priest had been delivering a homily on the fragility of life and the importance of spending quality time with God and family. “Dear brothers and sisters, one day all of us who are here will also die,” he told the congregation, according to video of the service.
Speaking to local media in his hometown of Cuenca, relative Patricio León expressed the family’s desire for answers. “It may be God’s will, but an investigation should be carried out in Guayaquil because what a coincidence that the crucifix fell on his head during Holy Mass,” he said.
His remains were transported to Cuenca, where a private funeral and burial took place on October 20 at Camposanto Santa Ana. Mourners, including family, fellow clergy, and the faithful, gathered to pay their respects. Church leaders have also urged regular inspections of religious objects and installations in temples to prevent similar accidents.
As of the latest reports, no official findings on the exact cause of the crucifix’s detachment have been released. The family continues to seek clarity on what led to the fatal incident that shocked both the local Catholic community and viewers around the world.
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