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.
The incident occurred on Saturday during a service that was being livestreamed on social media, according to reports by the Associated Press and the Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo published on Sunday.
The priest was standing at the altar when the cross hanging behind him became detached and struck him on the head.
Footage of the service showed a heavy crucifix detaching from the wall above the altar and hitting Sánchez as he celebrated Mass. He did not appear to notice the cross falling, while worshippers cried for help as the broadcast continued.
El Universo reported that Sánchez Molinari was celebrating Mass when the cross suspended above the altar came loose during a prayer. Worshippers tried to assist him and urgently called for an ambulance.
The incident was captured because the service was being transmitted live 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 founded in 1732 with a presence in 80 countries.
The Archdiocese expressed solidarity and condolences to the Redemptorist community as well as the priest’s family and friends. Sánchez Molinari had previously served for several years at San Lorenzo de Vinces parish, which also mourned his death.
The circumstances that caused the cross to detach from the wall had not been officially established at the time of the reports. Local authorities had not commented on the incident.
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