Priest speaks of death in sermon, dies as cross falls on him

Guayaquil (Ecuador): A Catholic priest in Ecuador died after a large crucifix hanging behind him fell on the back of his head during a livestreamed Mass, moments after he delivered a sermon on the fleeting nature of life.

Father Patricio Alfredo Sanchez Molinari, who served as parish priest at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Guayaquil, died on Saturday, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil announced.

The incident was captured on the livestream, which was later taken down. The video, reviewed by NBC News, showed the crucifix suddenly falling forward onto the priest as he stood behind the altar, facing the congregation, unaware of what was happening behind him. Molinari did not get back up after the crucifix struck him.

Parishioners could be heard screaming and crying as several rushed to help him and call an ambulance. First responders arrived at the scene, but the priest was declared dead the same day, according to officials.

In an unfortunate coincidence, Molinari had been reflecting on death and the transience of life shortly before the accident.

During his sermon, he spoke about the words of Jesus and urged members of the congregation not to waste their lives scrolling on their phones, but instead devote time to God and their loved ones. “One day, all of us here will also die, and sometimes the time we’ve spent on things doesn’t have as much meaning as the time we spend with God,” he told the congregation. He then began another prayer, asking God to bless those present, when the crucifix behind him suddenly detached from the wall and fell on him.

The Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed Molinari's death in a statement, expressing grief over the loss of the priest, who served the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Central Vicariate. A Eucharist in his memory was held on Sunday evening. The circumstances that caused the heavy crucifix to detach from the wall remain unclear. Church officials have not publicly provided an explanation for the incident.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Hans India