All cases
Nativity scene destroyed in Rome
December 30, 2023, ItalyOn December 30, a nativity scene was destroyed in the Setticamini area of Rome, Italy. The crib was built by the citizens. The vandals "destroyed the face of Mary, they broke the hand of Saint Joseph, they tore down all the decorations and scattered them everywhere".
Jesus figure stolen from nativity scene
December 30, 2023, SpainOn December 30, the statue of the child Jesus was stolen from the nativity scene on Plaza dela Hispanidad in Cuenca. In a statement, the Consistory lamented that once again this year these acts of vandalism have targeted a heritage "that belongs to everyone".
Angel statue stolen from church
December 29, 2023, FranceOn 29 December 2023, an angel statue was stolen from Saint Peter's Church in Sète, France. The theft has been reported to the authorities and the police are investigating. The thief would have stolen the angel during church opening hours.
Figure of Infant Jesus stolen from Church
December 29, 2023, ItalyOn January 29, Don Severino Bernardini, the parish priest of Sant'Agnese, noticed that the crib was empty: the baby Jesus had been stolen. This is not the first time that this has happened in the parish. Hopefully the priest, who is a man of vision, had another baby figurine in stock. However, Don Severino left a note in the cradle to try and move the thief's heart: "Please take me back to my crib". Although the missing figurine has been replaced, the parish priest hopes that the thief will return the stolen baby Jesus.
Thieves stole 30 crucifixes from cemeteries
December 27, 2023, SpainThrough the theft of up to 30 copper or brass crucifixes severe damage was caused in the cemeteries of Pantoja, Seseña and Borox, in the province of Toledo. Three thieves broke into the municipal cemeteries and tore the crucifixes off the tombstones, causing damage amounting to 20,000 euros in the Pantoja cemetery alone.
Arson attack on Maria Namen Church in Vienna
December 26, 2023, AustriaOn December 26, unknown perpetrators set fire to the entrance of Maria Namen Parish Church in the 16th district of Vienna, Austria. A construction site toilet, which had been placed at the entrance of the church due to current rennovations, has been set on fire and completely melted. Apparently, fire accelerants must have been used. The parish priest, Jesus David Jean Villalobos, suspects arson.
Baby Jesus Torn into Pieces By Young Vandals
December 26, 2023, ItalyIn Muggio, Italy, vandals damaged the Nativity scene by destroying first a sheep and later the statue of baby Jesus. The act was caught by the security camera and handed over to the police. Also, the parish priest of the Madonna del Castagno pastoral community, Don Maurizio Tremolada, published a video on his Facebook page showing the young people who entered the hut around 26 December and wrote a letter addressed to those who had destroyed the statue of the baby Jesus. In the letter, he invites the perpetrators to make up for their actions.
Aggressive Disruption of Christmas Mass
December 25, 2023, PolandOn December 25, 2023, a 50-year-old man disrupted a solemn Christmas mass celebrated in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Koscielny Square in Łódź. The perpetrator interrupted the celebration of the service by behaving aggressively and shouting obscenities.
Arrest after prevented terror attack on Cologne's Cathedral
December 24, 2023, GermanyA 30-year-old man from Tajikistan has been arrested in connection with the terror warning for Cologne's Cathedral. Shortly before Christmas, the German police had received indications about a planned terrorist attack on the Cathedral. The police presumes an Islamist extremist motive. Cologne's Cathedral has been closed outside church service hours due to security concerns since Christmas.
Nativity scene violently destroyed
December 24, 2023, ItalyOn Christmas Eve, street cameras caught a group of people damaging the nativity scene on the sqaure of Uboldo. The figures were "furiously kicked, punched and beaten". Someone also sat on the cradle and damaged it. The Major has announced that appropriate action will be taken.
18th century crucifix stolen on Christmas Eve
December 24, 2023, SwedenOn Christmas Eve, someone stole the 18th-century crucifix from St Nokolai's Church in Sweden. The thefts must have happened during the Christmas Eve celebration.
Repeated Thefts of Nativity Figures in Ancenis
December 24, 2023, FranceRepeated thefts of figures from nativity scenes have been reported at Ancenis church.
Arrests after Prevented Potential Attack on Cathedral
December 23, 2023, AustriaAustria has increased security measures over Christmas due to threats of Islamist terror attacks. The suspected targets should have been Vienna's Cathedral and a few other churches. The Tajik man arrested in Germany was allegedly part of a terrorist group discovered in Vienna. The police is suspecting an Islamist terrorist motive and a connection to the ISIS-K (Islamic State - Khorasan Province). Although the suspect fled, a few other suspected terrorists, namely a man from Chechnya, another Tajik man and a woman from Turkey, were arrested before Christmas. The fugitive was arrested in Germany and is awaiting extradition to Austria.
Church Defaced with Paint just before Christmas
December 23, 2023, PolandOn December 23, three juvenile residents vandalised a church in Gostynin, Poland. The walls of the church was spray painted in blue. The tags show insults and possible slogans related to Catholicism. A police investigation was launched and the vandals were identified thanks to the city surveillance.
Statue from Nativity Scene Stolen and Church Damaged Before Christmas
December 23, 2023, ItalyOn the 23rd of December, it was reported that a statuette of the nativity scene in the church of Valdagno was stolen. Now, the crib will be secured behind bars. The thieves stole the statue of a priest holding a monstrance and by doing so they also damaged the door, some pews and the steps to the entrance door, where another statue was ripped off. The police were notified.
Nativity scene figures stolen and damaged
December 23, 2023, GermanyBetween December 23 and 30, three figures were stolen from the nativity scene in St Anthony's Church in Amberg, Germany. In addition, a fourth figure was completely smashed. The police are asking anyone with information to contact them.
Desecration of La Piarre Church
December 23, 2023, FranceAccording to the local diocese, the parish church of La Piarre has been desecrated with the theft of a chalice and the desecration of consecrated hosts.
School eliminates Jesus from Christmas play
December 21, 2023, ItalyA primary school in Agna, Padua, decided to change its Christmas play by removing Christian references, including the name of Jesus, replaced by Cùcù, and the nativity scene. Teachers said they made the decision to avoid discontent among families of different faiths, but it offended Catholic parents. The play was changed without the parents' knowledge. Some families decided not to send their children to class in protest.
Sculptures Stolen From Church in Rietavas
December 21, 2023, LithuaniaOn November 20, three wooden sculptures, included in the register of cultural values, disappeared from the church in Rietavas, Lithuania.
Religious statues and car of priest vandalised
December 21, 2023, BelarusOn December 21, an unknown perpetrator wrought havoc on the grounds of the church of St. Michael the Archangel in Smorgon. Several religious statues and the priest's car were damaged. The man shouted that the Catholic Church should "get out of here".