Ecuadorian Priest Dies After Crucifix Falls During Mass

Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari died after a large crucifix fell and struck him during a livestreamed Mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on October 17, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed. The incident occurred at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, where Sánchez Molinari served as parish priest. The church is also known as Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro. Descriptions of the livestream footage show the crucifix falling from behind the altar and hitting the priest as he led the service. Worshippers rushed toward the altar and called for help while the broadcast continued. The fall occurred about 27 minutes into the livestream, according to accounts describing the recording. The footage captured the impact and the congregation’s immediate reaction, but it does not establish what happened afterward. The available information does not confirm when Sánchez Molinari died, what injuries he sustained or whether he received medical treatment. The Archdiocese announced his death in a social-media statement, identifying him as the parish priest of Perpetuo Socorro in its Central Vicariate. It offered condolences to his relatives, friends and the Redemptorist community. The...