A statue of the Mary was deliberately damaged with fire in the church of Santa Maria di Bobbio, prompting outrage and concern over escalating acts of sacrilege in the region.
On August 28, 2025, vandals targeted the Church of Santa Maria di Bobbio, setting fire to two fingers of the right hand of an 18th-century statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the parish’s patron saint. According to parish priest Don Mario Poggi, the perpetrators caused visible burn damage and risking a larger fire. Poggi condemned the act as both a threat to cultural heritage and a deep offense to the community’s faith: “It is a statue from the 1700s, which our fathers wanted for their church as a sign of love and deep faith… This gesture represents an offense to the same community.”
The priest filed a formal complaint with the Carabinieri of Bobbio, and the church will now remain closed except during religious celebrations.