Sacré-Cœur in Lourdes vandalized with offensive graffiti days after restoration; Catholics respond with prayer amid rising anti-Christian acts in France
Newsroom (12/11/2025 Gaudium Press ) An act of desecration has stirred the hearts of the faithful, the central door of the Sacré-Cœur parish church in this renowned Marian pilgrimage city of Lourdes was discovered Tuesday morning, November 11, marred by graffiti deemed “offensive to the Catholic religion.” Drawn in white marker, the inscriptions targeted the very sanctuary that stands as a beacon of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the vandalism, and the perpetrators remain at large. Municipal crews acted swiftly to erase the markings, restoring the door’s dignity. The investigation has been assigned to the Lourdes national police district, with authorities vowing to pursue leads diligently.
This unprovoked assault occurs mere months after the church’s comprehensive restoration, a labor of love that culminated in the inauguration of a magnificent polyptych last May. Erected between 1875 and 1903 in Neo-Gothic splendor, the Church of the Sacred Heart towers over Lourdes with its 65-meter spire, a testament to the faith ignited by the 1858 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Saint Bernadette Soubirous. For decades neglected, the edifice has experienced a profound rebirth over the past ten years.
Guided by Lourdes Mayor Josette Bourdeu and in compliance with France’s 1905 law mandating municipal upkeep of religious structures, the project drew inspiration from the tireless efforts of former parish priest Jean-François Duhar. His zeal rallied elected officials, benefactors, and artisans alike. The association Le Toit du Chœur, under the stewardship of Christian Gélis, has been instrumental for over a decade, funding artistic enhancements, hosting conferences, and organizing appeals for support.
The fruits of this communal devotion are evident throughout: a new Stations of the Cross, illuminated fixtures, an eagle lectern, a carved altarpiece, and a dedicated funerary chapel. The crowning achievement is the expansive polyptych by artist Philippe Pujo, comprising five vivid panels that honor the Sacred Heart while commemorating the 350th anniversary of Christ’s apparitions to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Interwoven are Lourdes’ sacred symbols—stone, water, light—and portraits of local residents embodying vocations in trades, arts, and piety.
The timing of this defilement has amplified its symbolic wound. To scar a site so recently revived through sacrifice and prayer is, for many Catholics, an intentional affront to the faith itself. “It’s an insult to faith, but also to beauty, to all the work done to bring this church back to life,” shared a parishioner who had arrived for morning prayer, her voice laced with sorrow yet resolute.
This incident joins a troubling escalation of hostility toward Christian sites in France. From January to May 2025, authorities documented 322 anti-Christian acts, a 13% rise from 284 in the corresponding 2024 period. Fully 84%—271 cases—involved theft or vandalism within places of worship. Annually, hundreds of French churches endure such violations, yet no dedicated national safeguards have been enacted to shield these spiritual havens.
In Lourdes, a sanctuary synonymous with peace, healing, and intercession, the vandalism underscores a stark contrast: where believers rebuild in hope and splendor, others opt for destruction. Nevertheless, the response from the faithful echoes the Gospel’s call to mercy. “We will respond with prayer and the light of Christ,” affirmed a parishioner following Mass, choosing forgiveness over fury.
As the inquiry proceeds to uncover the vandals’ motives and identities, the Catholics of Lourdes cling to an unshakeable truth. The Sacred Heart—emblem of divine love, reparation, and endurance—will persist in pulsing at the city’s core, undimmed by offense or injury. In the words of Sacred Scripture, “A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit” (Psalm 51:12). Through prayer and perseverance, the community affirms that grace triumphs over graffiti, and restoration over ruin.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Tribune Chretienne
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