All cases
Update: Perpetrator of Medjugorje Vandalism Identified
July 28, 2026, Bosnia and HerzegovinaOn the night of 27 to 28 July 2026, a scandalous desecration occurred on Apparition Hill in Medjugorje. Among the offences, the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was tagged with a blasphemous inscription, the altar of St James' church was set on fire, and a banner with aggressive messaging to the Medjugorje seers was hung up. Police have identified a Polish national who had been a pilgrim at Medjugorje back in 2017, but since then his life had taken a difficult turn "personally and spiritually". The local Catholic community have responded urging for prayers and forgiveness for the suspect, rather than judgement.
Third Church Targeted This Week: Tabernacle Desecrated and Excrement Left Inside Saint-Symphonien
July 27, 2026, FranceOn the night of 26 to 27 July 2026, the church of Saint-Symphorien in Chambray-lès-Tours was left desecrated and vandalised, the third church in the Indre-et-Loire region to be targeted this week. Unknown perpetrators entered the church, opened the tabernacle and threw consecrated hosts from the ciborium on the floor along and left excrement inside the church, the Diocese of Tours stated.
Tabernacles desecrated and painting slashed at Saint-Pierre Church in Nevers
July 25, 2026, FranceOn 25 July 2026, Saint-Pierre Church in Nevers was found to be vandalised with intruders having damaged the tabernacles and slashed the paintings inside the historic church. The perpetrators not only caused extensive damage to the furnishings of the house of worship, but committed a serious act of desecration which deeply affected the Christian community. The reports also describe the increasing frequency of acts of vandalism affecting churches in France.
Dog faeces placed in front of a church altar
July 22, 2026, GermanyDog faeces were deliberately placed in front of the altar of St Giles Catholic Church in Wörth am Rhein after unknown perpetrators gained access to the church. In addition to causing minor damage inside the church, the act desecrated the sanctuary and caused distress to the parish.
Church in Abenheim vandalised and holy water font desecrated
July 19, 2026, GermanyOn 19 July 2026, St Boniface Catholic Church in Abenheim was found to be vandalised by unknown perpetrators who urinated in the holy water font and damaged church furnishings. The vandalism resulted in the temporary closure of the church. According to parish representatives, the incident points to a wider problem of church vandalism in the area and increasing challenges to keep churches open.
Repeated Sacrilegious Thefts Prompt Concern of Bishop
July 14, 2026, ItalyDuring the night of 13 to 14 July 2026, a sacrilegious theft occurred at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Porto Sant'Elpidio, when a tabernacle was stolen which contained the ciborium of consecrated hosts. The theft of the Eucharist constitutes a profanation that affected the local Christian community and marked the second incident of this kind in the Archdiocese of Fermo in two weeks.
Desecration of Armenian cemetery in Istanbul
July 8, 2026, TurkeyOn the night of 7 to 8 July 2026, an individual entered the Surp Karabet Christian Cemetery in Istanbul by climbing over the perimeter wall. The perpetrator vandalised six graves and a memorial just days before the reconsecration of the Armenian Surp Karapet Church. The reports describe the Christian community as deeply wounded by the incident, and their concerns over the safety of Christian communities in Turkey have been heightened.
Church of Sts Peter and Paul Vandalised and Tabernacle desecrated
July 6, 2026, FranceOn the night of 5 to 6 July, unknown perpetrators entered Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul Church in the Wazemmes district of Lille and committed vandalism and sacrilegious theft. According to reports, the tabernacle, containing consecrated hosts, was stolen along with the sacred contents. Further, a cross and several religious objects were damaged and the interior of the church was also found to be vandalised. This act was lamented by the diocese as an offence against the sacred, the faithful and priests of the community.
Consecrated hosts and sacred vessels stolen from Sacri Cuori Church in Fermo
July 1, 2026, ItalyA profanation was discovered at the Church of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Fermo. Sacred vessels were stolen, the tabernacle was profaned, and consecrated hosts were removed together with the pyx in which they were kept. The incident affected the local Catholic community and prompted the archbishop to call for acts of reparation and a Mass of reparation.
Tabernacle destroyed and consecrated hosts discarded at Sacré-Cœur Church in Geneva
June 29, 2026, SwitzerlandOn 29 June 2026, the tabernacle of Sacré-Cœur Church in Geneva was stolen and destroyed in an act of sacrilegious theft and desecration. The tabernacle contained consecrated hosts and liturgical vessels, the former of which were later found discarded in a nearby construction dumpster. The incident prompted the celebration of a Mass of reparation for the affected Catholic community.
Artists Burn Crosses During Polish Music Festival
June 28, 2026, PolandOn 27–28 June 2026, two wooden crosses were deliberately set on fire during a performance at a metal music festival in Chwałków. While organisers described the act as an artistic performance, it deeply shocked the local Christian community, which regarded it as a desecration of one of Christianity's central religious symbols. Christian representatives further expressed concern that insults against Christians and the desecration of Christian symbols have become increasingly commonplace and that Christian symbols are being singled out in artistic performances in ways that symbols of other religions generally are not.
Young man arrested after destroying property in Friesoythe Church
June 22, 2026, GermanyIn what has been described as a destructive rage, a 25-year-old man damaged several objects in the St.-Marien-Kirche in Friesoythe the evening of June 22. He caused significant property damage, including damage to the church organ and religious art depicting the way of the cross.
Desecration of cemetery and Catholic church near Rouen
June 20, 2026, FranceIn the municipality east of Rouen, Saint-Léger du Bourg-Denis, the Catholic church and cemetery were found desecrated on Saturday, June 20. This event is not the first in the region of Rouen, and follows a series of thefts, vandalism, and desecrations of Catholic churches in the area.
Consecrated Hosts Stolen From Mugron Church
June 17, 2026, FranceThe Church of Saint-Laurent in Mugron was the victim of severe burglary including the desecration of consecrated hosts. This event is part of a broader pattern targeting Catholic churches in the Landes region of France.
Consecrated Hosts Stolen from Rome Hospital Chapel
June 16, 2026, ItalyA tabernacle containing consecrated Hosts was stolen from the chapel of Aurelia Hospital in Rome, in what the Diocese of Rome described as a sacrilegious act against the Eucharist. The thieves also took offerings from the chapel, prompting the Diocese to announce a Mass of reparation.
Attempted arson inside the Church of San Fereolo in Lodi
June 16, 2026, ItalyThe church of Saints Bassiano and Fereolo in Lodi fell victim to attempted arson. This occurrence follows a pattern of similar acts of vandalism and arson in Lodi over the past year.
Young Man Arrested After Desecrating Church and Damaging Sacred Property
June 8, 2026, PolandA young man was arrested after entering the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Łubów, where he committed acts of desecration and damaged religious objects near the altar and confessional.
Sacrilegious Theft Targets Relics of Saint Serenus in Biandrate Church
June 5, 2026, ItalyUnknown perpetrators broke into the crypt of the parish church in Biandrate, smashed the glass of the shrine containing the relics of Saint Serenus, and stole a golden crucifix, rings and other devotional objects. For the local Catholic community, the damage to the shrine and the disturbance of the saint's relics constituted a particularly grave act of desecration.
Sacrilegious theft of consecrated hosts and sacred objects
June 4, 2026, ItalyA devastating break-in at the Madonna della Colonna church in Tre Ponti, saw vandals enter through a forced rear door, ransack rooms, damage a historic altar painting, and break open the tabernacle, stealing consecrated hosts and multiple sacred objects. The parish priest expressed shock about the devastation of the church.
Grave crosses stolen and desecrated in series of cemetery attacks
June 4, 2026, GermanySeveral Christian grave crosses were stolen from burial sites in a series of incidents at cemeteries in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.