Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, holds a prayer service to mark Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, March 29, 2026. PHOTO: AFP
The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem has condemned the destruction of a statue of Jesus by an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa expressed “deep indignation” and “unreserved condemnation” for the desecration and destruction of a statue of Jesus by an Israeli soldier, Italy’s ANSA news agency reported on Monday.
Describing the act as a “grave affront to the Christian faith” and part of “other reported incidents of desecration of Christian symbols,” he denounced it as “a worrying failure in moral and human formation” and reiterated Pope Leo’s call for a “disarmed and disarming” peace.
Earlier on Tuesday, Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister, again slammed the “shameful” act, saying that insulting religious symbols is a sign of weakness, not strength.
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A photo circulating online of an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to smash a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon sparked international outrage and drew condemnation from religious and political figures.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar issued an apology Monday, calling it “grave and disgraceful,” and said an investigation had been opened to hold those responsible accountable.
הפגיעה בסמל דת נוצרי ע״י חייל צה״ל בדרום לבנון היא חמורה ומחפירה.
אני משבח את צה״ל על הודעתו, על הוקעת הארוע, על התחקיר המתקיים בנושא ומשוכנע כי יינקטו הצעדים החריפים הנדרשים כלפי מי שביצע את המעשה המכוער.
פעולה מביישת זו מנוגדת באופן מוחלט לערכינו.
ישראל היא מדינה שמכבדת את…— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 20, 2026
The Israeli army said it views the incident with “utmost seriousness” and that the conduct does not reflect the values expected of its troops.
The IDF restored the statue yesterday as per its statement on X, expressing ‘deep regret’ over the situation.
A short while ago, in full coordination with the local community of Debel in southern Lebanon, the damaged statue was replaced by IDF troops. The Northern Command worked to coordinate the replacement of the statue from the moment it received the report of the incident.
The IDF… pic.twitter.com/nGh1s1iia1
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 21, 2026
Meanwhile, As of April 17, 2026, the death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2, 2026, has risen to at least 2,294, with over 7,185 people injured according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
With input from Web Desk
