Priest killed by falling crucifix moments after preaching about death
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, a Catholic priest named Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was tragically killed when a crucifix fell on him. The incident occurred at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help during a livestreamed Mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The large crucifx struck the back of Father Sánchez’s head just moments after he delivered a sermon on the unpredictability of death.
Just seconds before the incident, Father Sánchez was speaking to the congregation about mortality. He urged the congregation to set aside meaningful time for devotion to God. Just as he finished speaking about death asked God to bless the congregation, he began a prayer. It was then that the crucifix struck him from behind. He was facing the parishioners, completely unaware of the looming danger. With his back to the wall, he appeared to have no time to react.
The incident was captured during a Facebook Live broadcast. The congregation could be heard screaming and crying as they rushed to assist him. When first responders arrived at the church, Father Sánchez was pronounced dead at the scene due to his injuries. The livestream video has since been removed by church authorities. However, snippets of it continue to circulate online.
Father Sánchez belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists). Moreover, he had celebrated the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood just one day before this incident. He had previously served at the San Lorenzo Parish of Vinces in Los Ríos province before transferring to Guayaquil.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil, led by Cardinal Archbishop Monsignor Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, published an official statement confirming his passing. The incident has sparked concerns among local religious communities regarding the safety and proper anchoring of heavy structural fixtures inside older churches.
