Catholic Priest Dies After Massive Wooden Crucifix Falls On Him In Front Of Churchgoers
A church service in Ecuador ended in tragedy after a large wooden crucifix fell from a wall and struck a priest who was leading Mass, leaving worshippers scrambling to help him.
The incident happened on Saturday evening, October 17, at Perpetuo Socorro Church in Guayaquil. The service was being livestreamed when the religious structure came crashing down on the priest, knocking him to the ground.
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Priest Identified By Archdiocese
The priest was identified as Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, who belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists.
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil announced his death in a statement shared on Instagram shortly after the incident.
The Catholic authority expressed its condolences to the priest’s family, friends and fellow members of the religious community, while asking for prayers for his soul.
“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. Rest in peace,” the statement read.
Livestream Captures Moments Before Tragedy
Footage from the church service shows Sánchez Molinari standing at the pulpit as a woman among the congregants recites a prayer.
The large crucifix mounted on the wall behind him suddenly falls, striking the priest and sending him tumbling out of view of the camera.
The sound of distressed worshippers fills the recording as several women rush towards the area where he fell in an apparent attempt to assist him.
Cause Of Crucifix Fall Remains Unclear
It was not immediately established what caused the heavy wooden structure to detach from the wall.
Sánchez Molinari was a member of the Redemptorists, a Catholic religious order established in 1732 that focuses on missionary work, preaching and service to disadvantaged communities.
His death has left the local Catholic community mourning the loss of a priest who served within the religious order.
The post Catholic Priest Dies After Giant Crucifix Falls On Him During Livestreamed Mass appeared first on iHarare News.
