Desecration of the Saint Francis of Assisi parish in Lubumbashi, the Holy Sacrament taken away
On the night of June 30 to July 1, 2025, unidentified individuals desecrated the Catholic Parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in Lubumbashi.
The Catholic Parish of Saint Francis of Assisi, located in the Luano district, commune of Ruashi in Lubumbashi, was temporarily closed following a serious act of desecration that occurred on the night of June 30 to July 1, 2025.
Unidentified individuals broke into the premises, vandalized the sanctuary, and caused significant material and spiritual damage.
The tabernacle was forced open and the Holy Sacrament desecrated, an act considered extremely serious in Catholic tradition. Several liturgical objects were stolen, others set on fire, and two statuettes of the Virgin Mary were affected – one was broken and the other taken away.
In response to this incident, the Archbishop of Lubumbashi, Archbishop Fulgence Muteba, ordered the immediate closure of the parish until further notice. A reopening could occur following the results of the ongoing investigation and the reconsecration of the desecrated places.
Father Emmanuel Mumba, vicar general of the archdiocese, called on the faithful to intensify prayers and remain vigilant in the face of increasing similar acts. Since the beginning of the year, around ten Catholic parishes have reportedly been the target of desecrations in the city of Lubumbashi.