On 17 October 2026, a fatal accident occurred during a Catholic service in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil. A massive wooden cross fell on Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, who was celebrating Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. He died as a result of his injuries. The tragedy was captured live during the broadcast of the service, and the Archdiocese of Guayaquil has officially confirmed the priest’s death.
The tragedy occurred during a church service
The accident took place on Saturday, 17 October, at the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro church, situated at the junction of José Mascote and Calicuchima streets in Guayaquil.
Priest Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari He was celebrating a regular Catholic Mass in front of the parishioners. Behind him stood a large wooden structure bearing a crucifix.
At around the 27th minute of the service, the cross suddenly came loose from its mountings and fell towards the altar. It struck the priest, who was standing in front of the structure at that moment. People inside the church rushed to help the victim. However, his injuries proved fatal.
The priest’s death was captured on live television
The service was streamed online, so the moment the cross fell was captured on video.
The footage shows the structure behind the altar beginning to tilt, before collapsing onto the priest. The incident took those present in the church by surprise. Footage of the accident quickly went viral on social media and attracted the attention of the Ecuadorian and international media.
At the same time, the circumstances surrounding the damage to the fixings remain unclear. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the collapse of the structure was caused by improper installation or the poor technical condition of the church.
The Catholic Church has confirmed the death of the parish priest
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil has issued an official statement announcing the death of Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari.
The deceased was the parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, whose members are also known as Redemptorists.
In a statement issued by the church, condolences were extended to his family, friends and members of the religious community. Parishioners and social media users also posted numerous messages expressing their sympathy.
What is known about the reasons for the cross falling?
As of 18 October, there is no official information regarding the technical cause of the collapse of the wooden crucifix. It is not known whether the structure and its fixings had been damaged previously, nor whether checks had been carried out to ensure their safety. Nor have any details been released as yet regarding the possible findings of the technical investigation.
The tragedy caused a huge stir in Ecuador, as it took place right in the middle of a religious ceremony and was captured on video.
