Patricio Sánchez was celebrating Saturday evening Mass at a Guayaquil church when the large cross behind the altar suddenly fell.
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — A Roman Catholic priest died after a large crucifix detached from the wall and fell on him while he was celebrating a livestreamed Mass at a church in Ecuador’s largest city, church officials and local reports said.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil identified the priest as Patricio Sánchez of Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Church. The accident happened on the evening of Oct. 17 as Sánchez was leading Mass before worshippers at the church in south-central Guayaquil. Video from the livestream showed the crucifix behind the altar suddenly falling during the service. Parishioners immediately called for help.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed Sánchez’s death and mourned the longtime priest. Local authorities had not publicly explained by Tuesday why the crucifix became detached, and no official findings about the cause of the accident had been announced. The church also had not publicly released details about whether there had been any earlier concerns about the structure holding the cross.
Sánchez, whose full name was reported locally as Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, served as pastor of Perpetuo Socorro Church. Ecuadorian news organizations reported that he was born in Cuenca in 1973 and had spent years serving Catholic communities in the country, including in Los Ríos province before his work in Guayaquil.
He belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists. The Catholic religious order was founded in 1732 and has a presence in dozens of countries. Sánchez had served as a priest for years, and the Archdiocese of Guayaquil had marked another anniversary of his priestly ordination just one day before his death, local reports said.
The Mass was being broadcast on social media when the accident happened. Footage showed the heavy crucifix falling from behind the altar as Sánchez continued the service. Worshippers could then be heard calling for emergency assistance. The recording circulated widely afterward, but church officials and news organizations treated the death as an accident rather than offering any explanation for what caused the cross to fall.
The unexpected death drew mourners to Perpetuo Socorro Church the following day. A memorial Eucharist was held Oct. 18 as parishioners gathered to remember Sánchez and pray for him. Ecuadorian outlet Primicias reported that the church filled with people during the evening service, which was led by Bishop Gerardo Miguel Nieves.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil also received condolences following Sánchez’s death. In a message shared after the accident, church officials expressed gratitude for prayers and messages sent from around the world. Archbishop Luis Cabrera was among church leaders who publicly mourned the priest and acknowledged his service to the Catholic community.
Perpetuo Socorro Church is in Guayaquil, a coastal city about 265 kilometers, or 164 miles, southwest of Quito. Sánchez had become closely associated with the parish through his years of ministry there, and local reports described him as well known among parishioners and within Ecuador’s Redemptorist community.
No public explanation for the crucifix’s failure had been released as of Tuesday. Local authorities had not announced the results of any investigation, leaving the circumstances that caused the heavy cross to detach from the wall unresolved as parishioners continued mourning Sánchez.
Author note: Last updated October 20, 2026.