A priest is crushed to death by a giant altar cross during livestreamed mass

A priest was crushed to death by a giant altar cross during a live Catholic Holy Mass broadcast in Latin America. Patricio Sanchez was leading the service when the heavy wooden crucifix on the wall behind him appeared to detach. Patricio had just adjusted his glasses when he was smashed onto the altar table in front of him.

Churchgoers rushed to help the priest who became pinned under the cross but he was killed instantly by the impact. The jaw-dropping tragedy occurred on Saturday afternoon at a church in the Ecuadorian port city of Guayaquil. The horror struck around 27 minutes into Patricio’s livestream at Guayaquil’s Perpetuo Socorro Church.

Overnight the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guayaquil confirmed the priest’s death. A statement said: “We inform you that our beloved Father Patricio Alfredo Sanchez Molinari, who served as parish priest of the Perpetual Help church in the Central Vicariate, has departed for the Father’s House to enjoy his presence and glory. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil joins in prayer for the eternal rest of his soul and expresses its solidarity, affection and love to the Redemptorist family, his relatives and friends.”

- by Natalia Penza, NewsBreak