Thieves struck the convent of the Padri Servi di Maria in Valdragone on the very day of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to San Marino. One or more individuals reportedly broke into the building, making off with money and vandalizing places of worship inside.
The incident was first reported by the news outlet Tribuna Politica Web, as noted by San Marino RTV. The theft is said to have been discovered by the vicar, Father Wandile, as he was preparing to celebrate Mass.
The Gendarmerie was called to the scene, where the incident was formally reported. Officers carried out an assessment of the damage and collected footage from the surveillance system, which could provide useful leads in identifying those responsible.
Domani Motus Liberi councillor Fabio Righi also commented on the incident. “What happened at the church of the Valdragone convent is extremely serious,” he said. “This is not just vandalism, not just a theft: a church has been violated, a place that belongs to the history, identity and deepest values of our Republic has been trampled upon.”
The Gendarmerie’s investigation is still ongoing as authorities work to reconstruct the events and identify those who broke into the convent.
