A statue of the Madonna of Medjugorje was stolen from the Church of San Tommaso in Ponte di Piave, following months of vandalism and death threats targeting the parish priest.
In Ponte di Piave, Italy, unknown individuals stole a statue of the Madonna of Medjugorje from the parish church of San Tommaso, amid a series of incidents involving vandalism and intimidation directed at the church and its priest, Don Antonio Ziliotto.
Previous incidents included the slashing of tyres on church property and death threats directed against the priest.
Authorities suspected a man with a criminal record may have been involved, though no arrests were confirmed. The theft was part of a broader pattern of hostility toward the religious institution, prompting concern among parishioners and local officials about the safety of worship spaces.