Priest killed by falling cross during live-streamed Mass in Ecuador

A Catholic priest died after a cross fell on top of him while he was performing a mass in Ecuador, which was being livestreamed at the time

A Catholic priest, Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, has died after a massive wooden cross fell on him while celebrating Mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

According to Newsweek, the incident occurred on Saturday, October 17, at the Perpetuo Socorro Church during a livestreamed service.

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In a tragic incident in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari died after a heavy wooden cross mounted behind the altar detached from the wall and struck him on the head during a live-streamed Mass.

The priest was conducting prayers and speaking to the congregation when the crucifix suddenly fell without warning. Paramedics arrived quickly, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The unexpected event, caught on live camera, shocked the local community and viewers online. Authorities are inspecting the church’s structural fixtures to determine how the heavy wooden cross came loose from the sanctuary wall.