Faith Under Fire: France Sees Relentless Rise in Anti-Christian Attacks

How can Christian traditions, such as keeping churches open, be preserved as hostility towards Christianity continues to grow?

English NAGYVILÁG 2025. OKTÓBER 12. 11:37

In the first half of 2025, France recorded 322 anti-Christian incidents, marking a 13 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier. According to the French interior ministry, attacks against property continue to represent the overwhelming majority of anti-Christian acts, while the number of attacks against individuals has almost doubled within a year.

Out of France’s 42,000 churches and chapels – described as forming “the country’s largest museum” – thefts have increased by 22.8 per cent. On average, five thefts per week were committed in French churches in 2024. The most affected regions are New Aquitaine, Île-de-France, Grand Est, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes and Occitanie. Arson attacks rose by 112.5 percent between 2023 and 2024, and between January and the end of August 2025, six church arsons were recorded, according to a piece published by the OPR media outlet.

In the Landes region, around Mont-de-Marsan, 27 churches were desecrated and looted in just a few weeks.

In September, three people were arrested after a large number of ciboria (chalices used to hold consecrated hosts) and chalices were found in their possession. Their trial is scheduled for 27 October, and the diocese has filed a civil lawsuit.

The gendarmerie’s recommendations have proven highly controversial for Christian traditions, especially in Catholic churches, where the Holy Eucharist is kept in the tabernacle. Nevertheless, Bishop Nicolas Souchu of Aire and Dax has passed on the advice to local priests:

remove the ciborium, leave the tabernacle open, and store the Eucharistic vessel in a secure location, such as the sacristy.

In Nice’s Madeleine district, vandals cut down an iron cross from its base in early September and tossed it aside a short distance away. The city’s mayor, Christian Estrosi, condemned the act as “an intolerable attack on religion”.

Also in September, in southern Indre, an unknown assailant set fire to a statue of the Virgin Mary, while in Brittany, a confessional booth was burned. In early October, an arson attack was also reported at La Châtre’s historic church.

These are just a few examples from recent months — but the problem extends beyond thefts and arsons. In early August, a man was arrested in front of Saint-Joseph Church in Pau. He was already known to the authorities, having been convicted 28 times for terrorism, threats and acts of violence. According to a former cellmate, he had spoken of his intention to “kill people in a church in Pau.”

At the end of September, however, he was acquitted. According to La République des Pyrénées, the court ruled that “the remarks attributed to the defendant did not constitute a death threat.”

Are Christian Churches Properly Protected?

According to Benoit de Sagazan, editor-in-chief of Le Monde de la Bible and head of the Pilgrim Heritage Institute, it is clear that churches in France are not sufficiently protected. As he explained:

“This is a sensitive issue, given the cost of the attacks on irreplaceable heritage — several million euros each year — and the Church’s core principle that its buildings must remain open.”

The question, therefore, is how to protect an open church. Benoit de Sagazan noted that Italy has, for several years, been experimenting with a mobile app that allows users to unlock a church to enter for prayer, while also keeping a record of who entered or accessed the building.

“In France, everyone has their own little trick. Sometimes it means leaving a bucket and mop in a visible corner at all times. Others play music continuously, install motion-sensor lights or timed lamps, and so on. All this gives the impression that the place is not empty — that someone is there — which can deter criminals,”

– Mr. de Sagazan noted.

English NAGYVILÁG

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