Decapitated Statue of the Madonna in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano

Case information
Incident date
Country
Italy
Place
Sant'Angelo Lodigiano
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Public Christian Symbol
Place of Incident
  • Public Christian Symbol (outside place of worship)
Bias Indicators
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Victim/Witness Perception
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated

In the morning of March 10th the statue of the Virgin Mary was found decapitated near the oratory of San Rocco at the church of Maria Madre della Chiesa in Sant'Angelo. The statue's head was discovered later, a hundred meters away.

The parish priest Don Angelo Manfredi expressed the sorrow of the parish: "On behalf of the Christian community, I express the sadness that this offense causes to a symbol of faith, motherhood, and protection. Precisely in the days when we remember the dignity of women, the image of a woman venerated by Christians and Muslims has been offended."

Father Angelo also scheduled a recitation of the rosary, followed by adoration in the chapel. "We will also pray for the conversion of those who committed this act and all the other offenses against God."

Mayor Maurizio Villa and Commissioner Domenico Beccaria sharply condemned the act and offered their support to the community.

Sources