#EU #France – On May 16th, 2026, two prominent Catholic sites in France were targeted in separate acts of theft and vandalism, highlighting ongoing concerns about attacks on Christian heritage and institutions.
In the heart of Paris’s 6th arrondissement, an individual entered the historic Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés around 4 p.m. on Saturday. The man broke a crucifix and stole a silver figurine of Christ before fleeing the scene. No Mass was underway at the time, and the suspect was not recognized as a regular parishioner.
Jean-Pierre Lecoq, mayor of the 6th arrondissement, condemned the theft and desecration on social media, expressing confidence that police would identify and punish those responsible. The incident occurred in one of Paris’s oldest churches, a landmark with deep historical significance.
Hours earlier and hundreds of kilometers away in Issoire, Puy-de-Dôme, vandals struck the façade of the Sévigné Saint-Louis Catholic school during the night from Friday to Saturday. Black paint tags included explicit anti-Catholic slogans such as “Enculus Papam” (“F**k the Pope”), “No Pasaran,” “Nid à racistes” (“Nest of racists”), and “Antifa.”
School officials linked the attack to the institution’s support for restoring an adjacent 19th-century chapel, a project led by the local association SOS Chapelle that has raised funds and installed awareness banners. Jacques Fongarnand, president of the school’s OGEC management body, called the acts “intolerable” and announced plans to file a complaint. The founder of SOS Chapelle expressed shock, noting the school welcomes students of all faiths and promotes messages of tolerance.
Students were expected to see the graffiti upon returning to class on Monday.
These incidents come amid a documented rise in anti-Christian acts in France. Official figures and watchdog reports, including those from the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC), have recorded hundreds of cases annually, encompassing thefts of sacred objects, vandalism, and arson and desecrations. Theft from churches has increased notably, often driven by the scrap value of metals, while ideological vandalism frequently features far-left or explicitly anti-Catholic messaging.
Authorities continue to investigate both cases, with local leaders urging stronger protection for religious sites. The events over this single weekend have drawn renewed attention to the vulnerability of France’s Christian cultural patrimony.
Image: The spray-painted vandalism tags left on the side of the Catholic school on Saturday, May 16th.
