A Catholic priest, Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez, has died after a giant altar cross fell on him during a Holy Mass at Perpetuo Socorro Church in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening while Sánchez was celebrating Mass at the church, with the service being livestreamed on his Facebook page.
According to reports by Metro News UK and local news outlet TN, the large crucifix suddenly broke away from the wall and crashed onto the priest, leaving worshippers and church officials in shock.
The incident occurred approximately 27 minutes into the livestream, which captured the moment the cross fell and the distress that followed.
Footage showed church officials screaming as Sánchez lay on the altar table following the impact.
The tragedy has drawn attention to the dangers posed by heavy religious fixtures and structures when their mounting systems fail, particularly in places of worship where large congregations gather for services.
In a particularly poignant detail, Sánchez had spoken about death just minutes before the accident while delivering his homily, the sermon traditionally given during Catholic Mass.
“Dear brothers, one day, all of us who are here are going to die,” he reportedly told the congregation, according to TN.
His remarks, delivered as part of the religious reflection, took on a tragic significance following the unexpected incident.
The priest had been leading the congregation in worship when the accident occurred, turning what began as a routine religious service into a scene of panic and grief.
The circumstances surrounding the collapse of the crucifix, including what caused it to detach from the wall, were not immediately clear from the reports available.
The incident has left worshippers and members of the Catholic community mourning the priest’s death.