A Catholic priest was killed when a giant crucifix fell on him during Mass in the port city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Saturday, 17 October 2026, minutes after speaking about death.
Father Patricio Alfredo Sanchez Molinari was addressing worshippers at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Church, where he served as parish priest. The Mass was being broadcast live online, recording the moments before the cross fell and the congregation's response.