A vandal entered a church in Medjugorje overnight and set the altar on fire, according to Corriere della Sera. The incident also involved damage to statues of the Madonna, Avvenire and RaiNews report.
The attack took place at the Church of Saint James, Tgcom24 states. The vandal set fire to the external altar of the church, the outlet adds.
Vatican News described the act as a serious act of vandalism at the sanctuary. The reports do not specify whether any arrests have been made or the extent of the damage to the statues and altar.
Medjugorje is a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina that has been a major site of Catholic pilgrimage since 1981, when six children reported seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The Vatican has not officially recognized the apparitions but has allowed pilgrimages to the site.
Authorities are expected to investigate the incident and determine the identity of the vandal.
