By Swift Reporter
A priest was killed after a large wooden crucifix fell from a church wall and crushed him during a livestreamed Mass.
The incident occurred at the Perpetuo Socorro Church in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 17, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil identified the man as Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari in an Instagram post shared the same day.
“The Archdiocese of Guayaquil joins in prayer for the eternal rest of his soul and expresses its solidarity, affection and love to the Redemptorist community, his family and friends,” the Archdiocese said in its statement.
“Rest in peace,” it added.
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The Archdiocese also noted that Sánchez Molinari was a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, a religious order of priests and brothers dedicated to missionary work, preaching and serving disadvantaged communities that was founded in 1732.
Video of the incident shared to social media shows Sánchez Molinari standing at the pulpit during Mass as a woman in the congregation recites a prayer. A large wooden crucifix mounted on the wall behind him then falls, connecting directly with Sánchez Molinari and knocking him to the ground, out of view of the camera.
Cries of panic and distress can be heard from congregants as several women run to his aid.
It is not immediately clear what caused the crucifix to fall.