Rome church vandalised: damaged Marian image and altar smeared
Four intruders desecrated the parish of San Paolo della Croce in Rome’s Corviale district, spilling holy oil, smearing the altar cloth with marker pen, leaving faeces inside the church bathroom and damaging a sacred image of the Madonna before fleeing when confronted by an assistant priest.
A Catholic church in Rome was desecrated after four individuals entered the parish of San Paolo della Croce in the Corviale area on 27 May 2026 and carried out multiple acts of vandalism and desecration inside the building. According to reports, the intruders spilled holy oil across the floor, smeared the altar cloth with marker pen, damaged a sacred image of the Madonna and left faeces on the bathroom floor before fleeing the scene.
The incident was interrupted when the assistant parish priest, alerted by noises coming from inside the church, confronted the group and immediately contacted emergency services. Police and forensic officers later arrived at the parish to begin an investigation, while the church was temporarily closed to allow evidence gathering.
The attack follows other recent acts of desecration targeting churches in Rome, including incidents involving human excrement thrown at religious artworks and altars in previous months.
Father Giacobbe Elia described the attack: “We are faced with a premeditated act, evidently intentional. Even having expressed themselves in several ways, spilling oil, damaging a painting of the Madonna and defecating on the ground, is an act towards Jesus and our religion".
Source: romatoday, adnkronos, fanpage
Photo: romatoday