# Vandals torch Catholic shrine, deface Virgin Mary statue with offensive graffiti

A world-famous Catholic shrine was set on fire and its statue of the Virgin Mary was defaced with the words "Devil in a skirt." The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about rising acts of religious vandalism and intolerance.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### World
- [Fox News World](https://www.foxnews.com/world/world-famous-catholic-shrine-torched-devil-skirt-scrawled-virgin-mary-statue) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:52:42 -0400