A Catholic priest in Ecuador, Father Patricio Alfredo Molinari, has died after a large crucifix fell on him while he was celebrating Mass at a church in Guayaquil, an incident captured during a livestream of the service.
The incident occurred on Saturday as the priest addressed worshippers at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in central Guayaquil.
A video of the incident, which has circulated widely on social media, showed the crucifix suddenly toppling over and striking the priest on the head while the service was underway.
According to Newsweek, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed his death in a social media statement on Sunday.
“We announce that our beloved Fr. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, CSsR., who served as parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the Central Vicariate, has departed for the Father’s House to rejoice in His presence and glory,” the archdiocese said.
The statement added: “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.”
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, as no official explanation has been provided regarding what caused the crucifix to fall. It is also uncertain whether structural defects or problems with its fittings contributed to the accident.
Father Sánchez Molinari served as the parish priest of Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro, the Spanish name for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, in central Guayaquil.
He belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, widely known as the Redemptorists, a Catholic religious order established in 1732 by Saint Alphonsus Liguori in Italy.
The congregation is known for its missionary activities, particularly its outreach to poor, marginalised and isolated communities.
According to local media outlet Guayaquil News, Sánchez Molinari previously served in Vinces, a town in Ecuador’s Los Ríos Province, before being assigned to the church in central Guayaquil.
The priest also regularly streamed Mass on his social media accounts and YouTube channel.
The Redemptorists were founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori, who abandoned his legal career to devote himself to preaching and missionary work among rural and underserved communities around Naples, Italy.
Information published by the Redemptorists’ Baltimore Province indicates that the congregation expanded across Europe during the 19th century, establishing communities in countries including Italy, Poland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The order subsequently extended its missionary activities to the United States, where it initially served Native American communities before expanding its work to Irish, German and Slavic immigrants.
Its activities included providing religious instruction and helping immigrant communities adjust to life in their new country.
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