Parishioners immediately called emergency services, and an ambulance was sent to the church.

According to reports, Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari suffered catastrophic injuries and died almost immediately after being struck.

The circumstances were already deeply tragic, but one detail from the moments before his death has drawn particular attention.

Father Sánchez had reportedly been delivering a sermon about mortality when the cross fell.

During the livestreamed Mass, he told worshippers that everyone eventually dies and reflected on how time spent on trivial things can seem far less meaningful than time devoted to faith.

Moments later, the wooden crucifix behind him reportedly detached from the wall and struck him.

Now his relatives are demanding answers about how such a dangerous object was able to fall during a service.

According to Ecuadorian newspaper Extra, members of Father Sánchez’s family want authorities to investigate the installation of the crucifix and determine whether negligence may have played a role.

Patricio León, a relative of the priest, addressed reporters in Cuenca, where the family gathered for the wake.

Although he acknowledged the family’s faith, León said the circumstances still needed to be examined.

He questioned how a large crucifix could suddenly fall from the altar wall and directly strike the priest during Mass.

A preliminary assessment by Ecuador’s National Police reportedly classified the death as accidental and attributed it to the severe blow Father Sánchez received.

However, legal specialists quoted in local media said prosecutors could still examine whether negligence contributed to the tragedy.

Investigators could potentially look at several factors, including how the crucifix was attached to the wall, whether the fixtures were properly maintained, when the structure had last been inspected, and whether appropriate precautions had been taken to ensure that such a heavy object could not fall.

Experts reportedly noted that prosecutors may not need to wait for Father Sánchez’s family to file a formal complaint.

Because the incident was captured during a livestream, authorities could potentially review the recording and open an investigation based on the available evidence.

At the time of the report, no final technical assessment explaining why the crucifix fell had been released.

The Archdiocese of Guayaquil also issued a statement following Father Sánchez’s death.

In the message, signed by Cardinal Luis Cabrera, the archdiocese expressed its condolences and said the priest had “departed for the Father’s House to enjoy His presence and His glory.”

The statement also offered prayers for the eternal rest of his soul and expressed solidarity with his relatives, friends, and fellow members of the Redemptorist community.

Father Sánchez was a member of the Redemptorists, a Catholic missionary order, and served at the parish in south-central Guayaquil.

He had also previously served at a parish in Vinces.

His sudden death stunned worshippers who had been attending what should have been an ordinary weekend Mass.

For his family, however, grief has now been joined by questions.

Was the crucifix properly secured?

Had there been any warning that its mounting had weakened?

Could the tragedy have been prevented?

Those are the questions they want investigators to answer.

Father Sánchez’s wake was held at Santa Ana cemetery in Cuenca on Tuesday, October 20, ahead of his burial later that afternoon.

The unusual nature of his death has also reminded some observers of another fatal crucifix accident.

In 2014, a massive crucifix erected in honor of Pope John Paul II collapsed in Cevo, Italy, killing 21-year-old Marco Gusmini.

Now, more than a decade later, another family is confronting a similarly unimaginable loss involving one of Christianity’s most recognizable symbols.

For those who knew Father Sánchez, the focus remains on mourning the priest and remembering his years of religious service.

But for his relatives, remembrance alone is not enough.

They also want to know exactly why that cross fell — and whether anyone had the opportunity to prevent it.