Baptismal font removed from church in Tolentino
As reported on 12 August 2026, a baptismal font was removed from the Church of Paterno in Tolentino which was temporarily closed due to repairs. The perpetrators reportedly entered through a rear door after removing a door panel and took the historic baptismal font. The incident has left the community of Paterno grappling with "great bitterness" over the looters' actions.
As reported on 12 August 2026, unknown perpetrators entered the Church of Paterno in Tolentino through a rear door and subsequently removed the baptismal font, one of the central Christian liturgical objets.
According to a social media post, the removal of the baptismal font has left the community of Paterno "grappling with the aftermath of the earthquake and the ravages of earthquake looters."
The church had been affected by a 2016 earthquake and remained closed in expectation of repairs due to earthquake damage as well as another theft about two years ago. On that occasion, the parishioners took steps to remove the sacred objects in the building which were a significant part of it's historical and religious heritage.
Sources: corriereadriatico, facebook
Symbolic Image: Pixabay