1. Incident date
    Country
    Italy

    Vandalism and Harassment of the faithful Leads to Church Closure

    According to reports from 1 September, a group of young people repeatedly caused disturbances at the church in Lunetta, including entering the building and blaspheming at the faithful who were praying; littering and causing damage to the churchyard. The parish responded by…

  2. Incident date
    Country
    Italy

    Crucifix in the Chapel of Santa Croce broken to pieces

    On 1 September, the Chapel of Santa Croce al Piano in Colognola ai Colli was subjected to a serious act of vandalism that caused damage to furnishings, religious images, and sacred art; most notably to a crucifix which was found smashed. A man was detained in connection with…

  3. Incident date
    Country
    Poland

    Religious statues smashed at two wayside chapels in Mazovia

    On 30 August 2026, a 21-year-old man vandalised two Catholic wayside chapels in Zygmunty and nearby Przyłęk, damaging religious images and statues and breaking windows and doors. He was arrested, admitted for the offence and was charged with insulting a place intended for the…

  4. Incident date
    Country
    Germany

    Vandals tear Christ figure off tabernacle in church vandalism

    On 30 August, St. George's Church in Reichmannshausen was vandalised. The church's religious symbols were targeted, with a figure of Christ torn from the tabernacle, a crucifix destroyed, along with the oil from several candles being spilled in the church.

  5. Incident date
    Country
    Italy

    Third Theft of Consecrated Hosts; Potential Occult Motive Investigated

    On 29 August 2026, a ciborium containing consecrated hosts was stolen from Santa Maria Maggiore Church in Scordia, making the incident the latest of three sacrilegious thefts reported within a few days at churches in different parts of Italy. The three cases involved either…

  6. Incident date
    Country
    Italy

    Bishop Condemns Deliberate Desecration of Pavia Cemetery Chapel

    Between 28 and 29 August 2026, unknown perpetrators broke into the Chapel of San Giovannino Cemetery in Pavia, forced open the tabernacle and stole a ciborium containing consecrated hosts. Several hosts were found on the floor, while others were recovered inside the chapel…

  7. Incident date
    Country
    Italy

    Altar destroyed and Statue Smashed in Bari Chapel

    On 29 August 2026, unknown perpetrators vandalised a Catholic cemetery chapel in Bari, completely destroying its altar and smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary. An empty tabernacle and priestly vestments were also stolen, causing deep pain within the local Catholic community,…

  8. Incident date
    Country
    Italy

    Catholic Sanctuary vandalised with satanic graffiti and destroyed statue

    In August, the rural St. Helena Sanctuary in Siniscola was profanely vandalised with satanic graffiti, and a statue of Saint Helena smashed, along with various other furnishings damaged. The incident constituted a sacrilegious insult to a historic place of worship which served…

  9. Incident date
    Country
    Spain

    Parish of San Nicolás demands action after ongoing acts of vandalism

    On 27 August, the Parish of San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir, known as the Sistine Chapel in Valencia, raised concerns over repeated vandalism and deterioration affecting the property and surroundings of the historic church, including human and animal waste littered on…

  10. Incident date
    Country
    France

    Sixth Criminal Incursion into Churches in Indre-et-Loire in one month

    The Saint-Pierre Church in Monts was broken into and ransacked on 25 August, a parish representative alerted the police, making it the sixth attack on churches in the Indre-et-Loire this month. Unknown persons broke down the door and reportedly moved items, but nothing was…

  11. Incident date
    Country
    Italy

    Sacred Images Damaged in Ripatransone Cathedral

    In Ripanstrone, the Cathedral was burgled and damaged by four unknown criminals on 24 August. The perpetrators stole donations and deliberately damaged several sacred images, including one of the Madonna and Child, which was found smashed.

  12. Incident date
    Country
    Germany

    Churches in Siegen Graffitied with Swastikas and Inverted Crosses

    As reported on 24 August 2026, two Catholic churches in Siegen were vandalised within approximately two weeks. Swastikas were painted on both churches, while several inverted crosses were also found at St. Marien Church. The use of Nazi and anti-Christian symbols prompted an…

  13. Incident date
    Country
    Germany

    Altar and Hymn Book Set on Fire inside St. Martinus Church

    Unidentified individuals set fire to several objects inside St. Martinus Church in Pfalzdorf on 24 August, damaging an altar cloth, microphones, and a hymn book. Cash was also stolen from a candle donation box, and the offences are being investigated by police as criminal…

  14. Incident date
    Country
    Albania

    Icons Smashed In Orthodox Church Vandalism in Southern Albania

    The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasius in Sinicë was found vandalised on 23 August. The perpetrators damaged icons and church furnishings, and poured cement inside the building, causing intentional damage to a place of religious and historical significance to the local…

  15. Incident date
    Country
    Ukraine

    Monk Killed and Two Injured in Knife Attack at Sviatohirsk Monastery

    On 23 August 2026, unidentified individuals killed a monk and seriously wounded another monk and a novice in a knife attack near St. Nicholas Church at the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Monastery in the Donetsk region. The attack targeted members of a Christian monastic community…

  16. Incident date
    Country
    France

    Fifth Church Desecrated in Series of Incidents in Indre-et-Loire

    On 21 August, Saint-Joseph Church in Joué-lès-Tours became the fifth church in the Indre-et-Loire region to fall victim to vandalism in one month. In the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the tabernacle was forced open and consecrated hosts were found scattered on the floor. The…

  17. Incident date
    Country
    Germany

    Icon, Cross, and Bibles stolen from Hospital chapel in Berlin

    Between 17 and 18 July 2026, an icon, a cross, a holy water font and a Bible were stolen from the Charité Chapel of a hospital in Berlin. Pastoral workers at the chapel commented on the "painful and hurtful" act as the perpetrators seem to have specifically targeted objects of…

  18. Incident date
    Country
    Italy

    Consecrated Hosts Stolen in Sacrilegious Church Burglary

    On 18 August 2026, the Church of Santo Stefano Protomartire in Oggiona con Santo Stefano was broken into and sacred objects, including a ciborium containing consecrated hosts, were stolen. The theft caused deep sadness among parishioners and affected objects of particular…