Statistics from French authorities reveal a 24 percent surge in church thefts over two years, totaling 780 cases in 2024.
These incidents encompassed the theft of sacred items like chalices and statues, as well as collection funds. This trend underscores heightened risks to Christian sites in the nation.
In Paris, at Notre-Dame d’Auteuil Church, Father Antoine Devienne recounted previous theft attempts, including one on a crown offered to the Virgin Mary.
The parish has since removed such valuables and implemented surveillance cameras alongside staff monitoring. Doors remain securely locked post-services to prevent unauthorized access.
Thefts represent only a fraction of broader threats, with arson attacks on French churches climbing 30 percent in 2024, nearing 50 events.
Across Europe, 2,444 anti-Christian hate crimes were documented in 2023, many involving vandalism. Personal assaults on Christians numbered 232 that year.
