A passing vehicle launched firecrackers at the San Carlo parish nativity in Sezze, damaging the Christian display minutes before midnight Mass.
In Sezze Scalo, Italy, unidentified individuals in a moving vehicle threw explosive firecrackers at the outdoor nativity scene of the San Carlo da Sezze parish, damaging the structure shortly before the parish’s midnight Mass.
The blast occurred under the church portico while the pastor, Don Gianmarco Falcone, was preparing for the liturgy, and the explosion was strong enough to shake the building and be heard hundreds of meters away; no injuries were reported. Emergency services were contacted, and Carabinieri officers conducted on‑site inspections to determine responsibility for the attack. The nativity, constructed by families of parish catechism students, was partially restored to allow the celebration to proceed.
Falcone stated, “It saddens us that on the holy night of Christmas a gesture of contempt was carried out against the nativity, which is a symbol of peace,” adding, “We hope the light of Christmas reaches the hearts of these people”.
Local authorities noted that the incident occurred amid other acts of vandalism targeting Christian Christmas displays in the Latina area, including the theft of nativity statues in Borgo Santa Maria.