Priest dies after giant cross falls during church service

A Catholic priest has died after a large wooden cross fell on him during a religious service inside a church in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The incident occurred while the ceremony was being livestreamed online, and footage of the accident has since circulated widely on social media.

According to the Archdiocese of Guayaquil, the priest, identified as Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, died following the accident at the Church of Perpetual Help, known locally as Iglesia del Perpetuo Socorro.

Footage of the incident shows the priest leading the religious service when the large wooden cross mounted behind him suddenly fell. The cross struck him on the head, leaving those present shocked by the unexpected accident.

The incident took place while the priest was preparing to conduct the religious rites for a wedding ceremony, according to Ecuavisa, a media organisation affiliated with US broadcaster CNN.

The accident has drawn attention after the livestream footage spread across social media platforms. The video captures the moment the cross falls as the priest conducts the service, although the circumstances that caused the structure to collapse were not immediately clear.

A special service was held at the church on Sunday in memory of the deceased priest. The service was led by Guayaquil Archbishop Cardinal Luis Cabrera, who joined the congregation in paying tribute to Sánchez Molinari.

In a statement, the church administration thanked people from around the world who had sent messages of condolence following the priest’s death. It also asked the public to pray for the eternal peace of his soul.

The tragic incident has left the local religious community mourning the loss of the priest, who died while carrying out his duties during a church ceremony.