A Nativity scene inside a church in Le Passage, France, was vandalised in early January 2026, with the statue of the infant Jesus decapitated and dismembered and other figures broken.
The damage occurred at the Church of Sainte-Jehanne in Le Passage-d’Agen and was discovered on 8 January 2026.
Two days later, at the Sunday mass on 11 January, the matter was raised among parishioners, some of whom described the act as “scandalous”, “shameful” and “horrible”. One parishioner said that there was “so much violence in this world” while others spoke of changing societal respect. Both the parish priest and the Mayor of the town spoke of an “unbearable act”.
“Jesus means “God saves”, so destroying these figures at this moment is almost like rejecting something from God that is meant to save us,” added the priest.
A police investigation was opened by the Agen authorities. At the time of reporting no perpetrators had been apprehended. Ten years ago, this same crib had already suffered damage in this same church.