Tabernacle removed and consecrated hosts scattered outside church in Cattolica
On 7 August 2026, an act of sacrilegious theft and desecration was discovered at the Church of San Giorgio in Conca, belonging to the Parish of Santa Maria di Nazareth in Cattolica. Unknown perpetrators removed the tabernacle and took the consecrated hosts contained inside, which were subsequently found scattered outside the church. The carabinieri opened an investigation into the incident which targeted objects of central religious significance, and deeply affected the Catholic community.
The incident was discovered 7 August 2026, when the Church of San Giorgio in Conca was being closed for the evening. Parish representatives found that the tabernacle had been damaged after being forcibly removed and taken from the church and the consecrated hosts which had been inside were found scattered outside the church.
The circumstances of the incident indicate a deliberate act of desecration and sacrilege with the perpetrators targeting objects of central religious significance to the Catholic community, specifically, the blessed sacrament, which is deemed most sacred by Catholics.
The parish administrators expressed their shock at the incident and condemned its seriousness. They stated that the incident caused “great dismay” among the parish community, while emphasising that their response would be prayer for those responsible. They wrote: “Even in the face of such a serious event, our response remains prayer for those who committed this act.”
Following the discovery, the parish immediately contacted the emergency services. At the time of reporting, no suspects or arrests had been announced.
Sources: altarimini, ilrestodelcarlino, zazoom, bologna.repubblica, renovatio21
Symbolic Image: pixabay