All cases
Altar Desecration and Attempted Theft at Church in Cittaducale
August 6, 2025, ItalyOn 8 August 2025, two individuals were reported for desecration and attempted theft at a church in Cittaducale. The incident involved degrading acts inside the church and repeated attempts to break into donation boxes.
Arson Attack at the Hermitage of Our Lady of Puerto Rico
August 6, 2025, SpainThe old hermitage in Puerto Escondido was damaged by an arson attack, which targeted a cross above its entrance door.
Satanic Graffiti Found on Church in Neuchâtel
August 4, 2025, SwitzerlandIn early August 2025, the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel was vandalised with spray-painted slogans referencing Satanism, anti-capitalism, and pro-Intifada messages, and anti‑church sentiments. The church’s pastor condemned the act, stating, "There is truly a desire to attack this building. There are clearly messages against the Church and several satanic symbols."
Two Tabernacles Forced and Consecrated Hosts Stolen from Church in Thillois
August 3, 2025, FranceBetween 2 and 3 August 2025, unknown perpetrators forced open two tabernacles at a church in Thillois and stole a ciborium containing consecrated hosts. The deliberate targeting of the Eucharist constitutes a serious act of desecration in the Catholic context.
Tabernacle Forced and Consecrated Hosts Stolen from Church Near Reims
August 3, 2025, FranceA church in Thillois was targeted in a break-in involving the forced opening of the tabernacle and the theft of a ciborium containing consecrated hosts. The act is considered a serious profanation in the Catholic context.
Arson Destroyed Historic St Mungo’s Church in Cumbernauld
August 2, 2025, United KingdomA massive fire tore through St Mungo’s Church in Cumbernauld, prompting a large-scale emergency response. Police confirmed it to be arson.
Statue of St. Francis Vandalized with Motor Oil
August 1, 2025, GermanyUnknown individuals poured used motor oil over a stone statue of St. Francis in front of the village chapel at Markstetten. The act has caused widespread shock in the community.
Priest attacked in Hubová
July 29, 2025, SlovakiaOn July 29, a Catholic priest was attacked in his house. According to the mayor of Hubová, the attacker appeared at the parish house and assaulted the priest in the entrance hall with an electric cable. The priest sustained minor injuries to his face and legs, but managed to push the man outside, lock the door behind him and alert the police.
Vandalism of Wooden Statue
July 29, 2025, GermanyOn July 29, unknown individuals entered the church, damaged a wooden statue as well as the interior plaster, and then fled without being identified. The damage is estimated at several hundred euros. The motives for the act are still under investigation.
Anti-Christian slogan and satanic symbols on Church in Pesaro
July 27, 2025, ItalyDuring the weekend of July 27, the facade of the Maddalena Church of Pesaro was defaced with the phrase “Clean churches, silent people,” along with a pentagram, which is commonly used as Satanic symbol, and black paint drawings resembling foetuses.
Vandals Destroy Two Crosses in Zawiercie
July 27, 2025, PolandUnknown perpetrators vandalised two roadside crosses in Zawiercie County, Poland, overnight, prompting a call for an expiatory service by Bishop Artur Ważny. In one incident a wooden roadside cross was broken and the figure of Christ on it destroyed and in the other a cross was disfigured and painted pink.
Church Damaged by Stone Throwing in Neustadt
July 27, 2025, GermanyHoly Trinity Church in Neustadt was targeted in an act of vandalism after unknown individuals threw stones at the building, damaging five historic stained-glass windows.
Vandalism of Catholic Academy and Church ahead of Award to Bishop Barron
July 27, 2025, GermanyIn the days leading up to the Josef‑Pieper Prize ceremony in Münster, vandals sprayed slogans on the Franz‑Hitze‑Haus academy and local church and defaced several Christian statues with red paint. State security has since launched an investigation.
Armed Robbery Attempted During Mass
July 27, 2025, ItalyA masked gunman stormed into the chapel of the Dominican Sisters' institute in Sant'Anastasia, near Naples, during Mass. He attempted to rob the congregation and fired a blank shot into the air.
Pro‑Palestinian Protesters Disrupt Mass at La Madeleine in Paris
July 26, 2025, FranceOn the evening of July 26, 2025, pro‑Palestinian activists entered La Madeleine church in Paris during Mass, shouting slogans about the conflict in Gaza, thus interrupting the liturgy. The rector of the church denounced the demonstration as a violation of sacred ritual, stating he intended to press charges.
Cross sawn up and corpus placed upside down
July 25, 2025, GermanyVandals sawed down a roughly two-metre-high cross outside a church in Bann, desecrated the figure of Christ, and urinated in the sacristy—prompting shock in the local community and an ongoing police investigation.
Historic Chapel in Limbiate Vandalized Overnight
July 25, 2025, ItalyVandals broke into the small chapel at Villa Pusterla in Mombello di Limbiate and destroyed interior fixtures, decapitating the statue of Saint Anthony. Officials confirmed the incident as intentional vandalism and urged improved security.
Arson attack on the Notre-Dame-des-Champs Church in Paris
July 24, 2025, FranceThe Church of Notre-Dame-des-Champs in Paris was closed to the public after two fires occurred within 48 hours on July 23 and 24, 2025. One of the fires was confirmed to be of criminal origin. Authorities launched an investigation while restoration has begun on the damaged interior.
Consecrated Hosts Stolen from Church in Campagnola in Suspected Sacrilegious Theft
July 21, 2025, ItalyOn 21 July, unknown perpetrators forced open the tabernacle of a church in Campagnola Emilia and stole consecrated hosts. The deliberate targeting of the Eucharist constitutes a serious act of desecration in the Catholic context. The incident indicates elements beyond financial motivation, as the primary target appears to have been the consecrated hosts rather than valuables.
Arson at Germany's Largest Wooden Church
July 20, 2025, GermanyA fire damaged the facade and roof truss of the Evangelical Marktkirche in Clausthal-Zellerfeld on the night of July 20, 2025, in what officials later determined to be arson.