The Valdragone community gathered yesterday at the Chiesa dei Servi di Maria for a mass of reparation, celebrated in response to the grave incident that took place on the day of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to San Marino. The rite was presided over by Domenico Beneventi, Bishop of the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro.
The service was organized following the desecration of the church, where unidentified individuals had broken in, causing extensive damage. During the break-in, nine doors were forced open and several valuable items were stolen. The perpetrators also made off with the tabernacle containing the consecrated hosts, which was later found outside the religious building.
The service was attended by priests, deacons, worshippers and institutional representatives, including the Captains of the Castle of Borgo Maggiore and Domagnano. It was a particularly heartfelt ceremony, intended to help heal, on a spiritual level, a wound that had affected the entire community.
During the celebration, Bishop Beneventi underscored the severity of the violation of the place of worship and, in particular, of the tabernacle, while also expressing his closeness to Father Wandile, the priest in charge of the church. The incident marked what had otherwise been a historic day for San Marino, defined by the Pontiff’s landmark visit.
