On 2 April 2025, vandals destroyed two large crosses outside the Chiesa Madre in Paternò, Sicily. The attack follows other recent incidents in the same town, including an attempted theft of a sacred painting and verbal abuse during a Christian procession, raising serious concerns about growing hostility towards the local Christian community.
The two crosses were part of a Lenten tradition and stood at the foot of the historic hill leading to the main church.
Archbishop Luigi Renna condemned the act of destruction as "sacrilegious" and called on the faithful to respond with prayer and public signs of devotion, including a penitential procession.
The attack follows other recent incidents in the same town. In March, a painting of Saint Barbara was almost stolen from its niche, and in January worshippers were mocked during a procession of the Christ Child.
Local authorities and politicians expressed outrage and called for a full investigation and greater protection of Christian symbols. Although the perpetrators remain unknown, the repeated targeting of Christian sites and symbols suggests a pattern of anti-Christian hostility.