Patricio Sánchez Molinari died during an Oct. 17 service in Guayaquil, where the cause of the crucifix’s fall remains under review.
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — A Roman Catholic priest died after a large wooden crucifix detached and fell on him as he celebrated a livestreamed Mass at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Church in Guayaquil, an accident that was witnessed by parishioners and captured during the online broadcast.
The Rev. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was leading the evening Mass on Oct. 17 when the crucifix behind the altar came down during the service. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed his death and identified him as the parish priest of Perpetuo Socorro. Worshippers rushed forward after the structure fell and called for emergency assistance. The cause of the crucifix’s detachment has not been publicly established.
The death has prompted questions about how the large religious fixture came loose inside the church. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil said it was awaiting a technical report on the incident, according to Ecuadorian news outlet Primicias. The archdiocese said neither the Redemptorist community that administers the parish nor authorities had issued an official explanation for what caused the accident. The church said its parishes conduct maintenance with support from a technical department.
Video from the Mass showed Sánchez Molinari participating in the service shortly before the crucifix fell. Local reports differed over the precise point in the liturgy when the accident occurred, but they agreed that the service was being broadcast live on social media and that people inside the church immediately tried to help. Authorities have not released technical findings establishing whether the mounting, the wall or another factor contributed to the fall.
Sánchez Molinari belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, whose members are commonly known as Redemptorists. Ecuadorian reports said he was born in Cuenca in 1973 and had served Catholic communities in several parts of Ecuador, including Los Ríos province and Manta, before his ministry in Guayaquil. He had completed 21 years of priestly ministry shortly before his death, according to the Archdiocese of Guayaquil.
His death came shortly after the church had marked the anniversary of his priestly ordination. During the Mass on Oct. 17, Sánchez Molinari also spoke about mortality and the value of time devoted to faith and family. Video of those remarks circulated widely after his death, but church leaders focused their public messages on mourning the priest and supporting the parish community rather than assigning a cause or responsibility for the accident.
Parishioners returned to Perpetuo Socorro the following evening for a memorial Eucharist. The Oct. 18 service drew relatives, clergy and members of the community and was led by Bishop Gerardo Miguel Nieves, according to Primicias. Church leaders remembered Sánchez Molinari for his pastoral work, including his devotion to Eucharistic worship and his service in communities elsewhere in Ecuador before taking charge of the Guayaquil parish.
Sánchez Molinari’s remains were later transferred to Cuenca, his hometown, for funeral ceremonies and burial. His relatives have called for the circumstances of the accident to be fully investigated. Ecuadorian reports said police initially treated the death as accidental, but that finding did not establish why the crucifix detached. The family’s request and the church’s pending technical review have kept attention focused on the installation and condition of the structure.
At the Guayaquil church, the space where the crucifix had been mounted remained empty during a visit reported by El Universo on Oct. 20. Parishioners continued gathering at the church to mourn their priest as questions about the accident remained unanswered. No publicly released technical report had established the cause of the crucifix’s failure by Oct. 21, and church officials had not announced responsibility for the incident.
Author note: Last updated October 21, 2026.