World-famous Catholic shrine torched, 'Devil in a skirt' scrawled on Virgin Mary statue

A antheral has been arrested aft 1 of the world's astir celebrated Catholic pilgrimage sites was vandalized and partially acceptable connected fire, with a statue of the Virgin Mary defaced and the words "Devil successful a skirt" scrawled crossed its pedestal successful black, according to reports.

Bosnian constabulary arrested a fishy Tuesday successful transportation with the overnight vandalism and arson astatine the Shrine of Our Lady successful Medjugorje, according to Vatican News.

Authorities person not released the man's individuality arsenic investigators enactment to find a motive and whether helium was liable for different incidents reported astatine the shrine that aforesaid night, the outlet said.

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Police were archetypal called astir 4:30 a.m. July 27 aft the look and hands of the statue of the Virgin Mary connected Apparition Hill, besides known arsenic Podbrdo, were recovered covered successful achromatic paint. (Associated Press)

Police were called astir 4:30 a.m. July 27 aft the look and hands of the statue of the Virgin Mary connected Apparition Hill, besides known arsenic Podbrdo, were recovered covered successful achromatic paint.

The pedestal astatine the ft of the statue was spray-painted with the English operation "Devil successful a skirt," portion different graffiti and the statue's hands were painted black.

An outdoor altar adjacent was besides acceptable connected occurrence adjacent St. James Church, the outlet said.

Surveillance footage reportedly astatine that determination showed a antheral pouring what investigators judge was gasoline onto the altar earlier mounting it ablaze. The occurrence was extinguished.

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Police were archetypal called astir 4:30 a.m. July 27 aft the look and hands of the statue of the Virgin Mary connected Apparition Hill, besides known arsenic Podbrdo, were recovered covered successful achromatic paint. (Associated Press)

The 2 attacks came conscionable days earlier Medjugorje's yearly younker supplication festival, which is expected to gully much than 50,000 pilgrims from astir the world.

In a connection Tuesday, the Medjugorje Parish Office condemned the vandalism and urged Catholics to respond with "prayer, fasting, and forgiveness" alternatively than anger.

"It is with large sadness that we received the quality of the enactment of vandalism," the parish said.

Church officials besides said cleanup and repairs began instantly truthful the damaged supplication sites could erstwhile again invited pilgrims.

"The affected areas are being cleaned and restored arsenic rapidly arsenic possible," the parish said, thanking volunteers for helping sphere the shrine arsenic "a spot of brushwood with God, a spot of peace."

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Church officials besides said cleanup and repairs began instantly truthful the damaged supplication sites could erstwhile again invited pilgrims. (Associated Press)

Rather than calling for retribution, the parish urged the faithful to commune for those responsible.

"We commune for the conversion of the hearts of those who committed this act," the connection said, asking that God "touch them with His grace and pb them connected the way of goodness."

The parish besides appealed for peace, encouraging Catholics "not to instrumentality evil for evil," but alternatively to carnivore witnesser done "love, forgiveness and hope."

Despite the attack, officials said the shrine remains open, and its regular docket of Mass and supplication services volition proceed arsenic planned.

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Located astir 85 miles southwest of Sarajevo, Medjugorje became 1 of the world's best-known Catholic pilgrimage destinations aft six children and teenagers reported seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary determination successful 1981.

The Vatican gave the greenish airy for Catholics to proceed flocking to Medjugorje offering its support for devotion astatine 1 of the astir contested sites of Roman Catholic signifier successful caller years, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.