Priest Dies After Giant Cross Falls on Him During Live Church Service

(Father Patricio Sanchez Molinari. photo by X/Vikas Dixit)

A Catholic priest, Father Patricio Sanchez Molinari, has died after a large wooden cross fell on him during Mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The service took place on Saturday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

The cross hung on the wall above the altar.

It came loose and hit the priest on the head while he was celebrating Mass.

He did not seem to notice it falling.

Worshippers cried out for help and called for an ambulance.

The service was being streamed live on social media, so the moment was caught on video.

The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed his death.

He belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a religious order founded in 1732 that works in 80 countries.

He had served for several years at the San Lorenzo de Vinces parish, which is also mourning him.

It is still not clear what caused the cross to come loose, and local authorities have not commented yet.

The Catholic priest who died after a crucifix fell on him was talking about how everyone will be dead one day and the importance of giving your life to God. “Dear brothers and sisters, one day, all of us here will also die…” said Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari of Ecuador. “Dear brothers and sisters, one day we will all die, and the time we spent on trivial things will prove far less meaningful than the time we invested in God,” he said again. “The quality time we gave to Him, to our brothers and sisters, to our spouses, to our children, and to our families… That is time well spent, dear brothers and sisters.” Just moments later, the crucifix fell on him and killed him.

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 19, 2026