- The claim that a Catholic priest in Ecuador stole $2 million in church funds then died when a crucifix fell on him during a livestreamed Mass is unfounded.
- The claim spread on social media following the Oct. 17 death of Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari. The original source of the theft allegation remains unclear.
- Although the priest’s death was real, Snopes found no credible evidence supporting the alleged theft. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil told Snopes there was no evidence to support the accusation and that it didn’t receive any complaints of financial mismanagement involving Sánchez or his parish. The Archdiocese also confirmed that Sánchez was responsible for the parish’s finances.
- Snopes will update this report if, or when, additional information surfaces. We have reached out to the Redemptorist congregation, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and Ecuador’s Prosecutor General’s Office and await their responses.
In October, social media users claimed that a Catholic priest in Guayaquil, Ecuador, who died after a large wooden crucifix fell on him during Mass had previously stolen $2 million in church donations.
For instance, one Threads post claimed, “Catholic Priest Killed by Giant Cross During Mass After Stealing $2 Million in Donations.”
(Threads user @the_awaken1814)
“LET THIS TRAGEDY BE A WARNING TO ALL WHO THINK GOD ISN’T PRESENT IN THESE TIMES,” the user wrote above a video showing the crucifix falling on the priest during livestreamed Mass.
The allegation also circulated on Facebook and Instagram, with some people suggesting the priest’s violent death was a form of “divine punishment.” Snopes readers also contacted us to ask whether the incident really happened and whether the accusations were true.
In short, the strange circumstances of the Rev. Patricio Sánchez’s death were real and documented on video, but the allegation he stole $2 million in donations beforehand wasn’t supported by credible evidence. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil rejected the allegation in statements to Snopes.
What happened to Sánchez?
On Oct. 17, 2026, Sánchez was celebrating Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church when a large wooden crucifix mounted behind the altar detached from the wall and struck him. The Associated Press reported on the incident, citing confirmation from the Archdiocese.
The incident was captured during a livestream of the Mass, a recording of which remains available on Facebook (archived):
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil announced a memorial Mass for Sánchez on Instagram, scheduled for Oct. 18:
Sánchez was 52 years old and belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists. According to an obituary published by the congregation, Sánchez served Catholic communities in several Ecuadorian cities before becoming parish priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Guayaquil.
In an Oct. 21 article, Spanish newspaper El País interviewed parishioners who recalled Sánchez’s work in the community, including activities supporting children and young people.
The exact reason the crucifix fell wasn’t clear in the immediate aftermath of the incident. On Oct. 19, Metro Ecuador reported that the cause had not yet been officially established. On Oct. 20, Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio reported that Sánchez’s relatives wanted authorities to investigate the circumstances of his death.
What did the Archdiocese say?
Snopes contacted the Archdiocese of Guayaquil to ask if it was aware of the theft allegation, whether there was evidence supporting it and if whether the archidiocese had ever received complaints about financial misconduct involving the priest.
In a message to Snopes, communications manager Steven Pincay said:
There is no evidence to support the claims made in this video. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil has not received any accusations or complaints of mismanagement of funds within the Perpetual Help Parish or by Fr. Patricio Sánchez, CSsR., who was the administrator and responsible for the finances of said parish.
In a separate message, the Archdiocese said it did not endorse the allegation, which it claimed was “maliciously disseminated by a YouTuber to gain views, regarding the death of Fr. Patricio Sánchez, CSsR.” The Archdiocese didn’t identify the YouTuber and we have reached out for more information.
Where did the theft allegation come from?
The exact origin of the $2 million theft allegation remains unclear. It was circulating online by Oct. 18, one day after Sánchez’s death. We found no evidence it had circulated before his death.
On Oct. 18, Christian News & Investigative Reports published an article addressing the rumor, saying it found the accusation on social media. The following day, Kenyan news outlet K24 Digital reported the allegation was spreading online but remained unsupported by credible evidence.
On Oct. 20, a more elaborate version of the story appeared on a website called Cross Message. In addition to claiming Sánchez stole $2 million, the article alleged “some people also pointed out that church members had previously seen him driving expensive luxury cars and living in a mansion, raising serious questions about where his wealth came from.” It also claimed a wooden cross he held during an earlier Mass developed cracks, which some believers supposedly interpreted as a warning from God.
The article didn’t identify the sources of these allegations or provide evidence to substantiate them.
