Priest in Ecuador dies after cross falls on him during livestreamed Mass in Guayaquil

Summary

The Rev. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari died in Guayaquil, Ecuador, after a cross fell on him while he was celebrating Mass. The New York Times reports that a wooden cross detached from a wall and struck him while he was addressing his congregation during a livestreamed Mass, and that he died. Euronews reports that Ecuadorian priest Patricio Sánchez died after a large cross fell on him while he was celebrating Mass in Guayaquil, and it also published a video report on the death.

Timeline

1. New York Times

   19 Oct 2026, 14:02 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that the Rev. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was addressing his congregation in Guayaquil, Ecuador, when a wooden cross detached from a wall and struck him during a livestreamed Mass, and that he died.

2. Euronews

   19 Oct 2026, 20:34 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that Ecuadorian priest Patricio Sánchez died after a large cross fell on him while he was celebrating Mass in the city of Guayaquil.

3. Euronews

   19 Oct 2026, 20:34 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews's video report says that Ecuadorian priest Patricio Sánchez died after a large cross fell on him while he was celebrating Mass in the city of Guayaquil.