In Bologna, the night before, unknown people entered the Basilica of Our Lady of St. Luke, one of the city's main Catholic shrines. The local archdiocese reported this. According to her, the attackers broke into the night grid on the icon of the Mother of God and the Child, broke the protective glass and took jewelry from the silver frame covering the image.
According to preliminary estimates, the temple that tradition attributes to the authorship of the Evangelist Luke was not damaged. However, the incident resonated among the people of Bologna – the archdiocese noted that the townspeople were shocked and outraged by what happened.
According to local media, criminals stole about 10 pieces of jewelry that believers left as gifts: among them were a gold chain and several rings. At the same time, some valuables remained in place, suggesting that the attackers may have fled in fear.
The basilica's rector, Don Remo Resca, said the alarm system protecting the icon box had been temporarily disabled due to construction work. Perhaps criminals took advantage of this situation. At the scene, forensic scientists found a glove that could become important evidence in the investigation. Law enforcement agencies have begun an investigation and are identifying those involved in the theft.
Earlier in Australia, a court convicted Miguel Monsalve, 52, of Venezuela, who stole Egyptian artifacts from a museum in Kabuluter – necklaces, mummy masks and cat statues. The attacker used an ax to smash the window, the motive for the theft was “the museum's connection to the Catholic Church. The artifacts were wrapped in the Venezuelan flag. The judge called the incident absurd but serious.”
