A Catholic priest in Guayaquil, Ecuador, died on Saturday after a large wooden cross fell on him while he was celebrating Mass, according to the Archdiocese of Guayaquil and multiple news reports. The Mass was being streamed live online, and the moment was captured on video in front of worshippers in the church.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil identified the priest as Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, a member of the Redemptorist order who served as parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Perpetuo Socorro) church in the city's Central Vicariate. In a statement dated October 17, the archdiocese said he "has departed to the Father's House" and offered its solidarity to "the Redemptorist family, his relatives and friends." Infovaticana reported that the notice was signed by Cardinal Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, the archbishop of Guayaquil.
Video of the livestream, widely shared on social media, shows the crucifix mounted on the wall behind the altar coming loose and falling toward the priest as he stood at the altar. Spain's 20minutos and Marca reported that a woman can be heard shouting, "Father, Father... call an ambulance!" right after the cross struck him.
Warning: the video below shows the moment the cross falls on the priest. Some viewers may find it disturbing.
Citing El Heraldo de México, Infovaticana reported that the cross fell about 27 minutes into the broadcast of the daily Mass.
The archdiocese's statement did not describe the circumstances of the death or say what caused the cross to fall. As of Sunday morning, no official explanation had been given for how the cross came loose or how it was fixed to the wall, O Globo and Infovaticana reported. No injuries to anyone else have been reported. The archdiocese has not yet announced funeral arrangements.
Photo: Religión Digital
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