Viral: Priest dies after giant crucifix falls on him during livestreamed Mass, minutes after sermon on death
PTC Web Desk: A Catholic priest in Ecuador has died after a heavy crucifix fell from the wall and hit him on the back of his head while he was conducting a Mass that was being streamed live. The accident happened just moments after he spoke to his congregation about how short life is, the NY Post reported.
Father Patricio Alfredo Sanchez Molinari was the parish priest at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Guayaquil. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil announced that he died on Saturday.
What the video shows
The livestream was later removed, but NBC News reviewed the footage. It shows the priest standing at the altar, facing the people in the pews, with the crucifix behind him. Without any warning, the crucifix tips forward and falls on him. He was not aware of it until it hit him.
The priest did not get up. Parishioners can be heard screaming and crying and several of them ran to help while others called for an ambulance. Paramedics reached the church, but officials said he was declared dead the same day.
His last words on life and death
Just before the accident, Molinari had been talking about death. Quoting the words of Jesus, he urged people not to waste their lives scrolling on their phones and to give their time to God and their loved ones instead.
“One day, all of us here will also die,” he told the congregation, adding that time spent on other things often means less than time spent with God.
He then started another prayer, asking God to bless everyone present. That was when the crucifix came loose from the wall.
Church in mourning
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed his death in a statement and said it was deeply saddened by the loss. A Mass in his memory was planned for Sunday evening.
It is still not clear why the heavy crucifix came off the wall. Church officials have not given any explanation so far.
- PTC NEWS
