BY Ian Dunn | August 13 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS     print icon print

17 Italian_Chapel_orkney

Italian Chapel theft condemned

Thieves have stolen three hand-carved wooden Stations of the Cross from Orkney’s iconic Italian Chapel.

The historic chapel, built during the Second World War by Italian prisoners-of-war, was targeted within the last fortnight.

The 14 stations were gifted by the chapel’s creator Domenico Chiocchetti and his wife in 1964, but three have now vanished.

John Muir, the secretary of the Italian Chapel Preservation Society, said the theft was ‘devastating’—particularly this year, its 70th anniversary.

The stolen stations are numerals IV, VI and X and they are approximately 6 inches by 8 inches with a small wooden cross on the top edge.

The shocking theft came only weeks after Pope Francis sent his blessing to mark the Italian Chapel’s anniversary. It was read at a special ceremony at the chapel celebrated by Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow and Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the Apostolic nuncio to Great Britain.

In his message Pope Francis prayed ‘that this chapel, built in time of war, may continue to be a sign of peace and reconciliation.’

[email protected]

—Coming soon in the SCO, author Philip Paris on the miracle that is the Italian Chapel

Leave a Reply

latest news

Church doors remain open to those who remarry, Pope says

August 5th, 2015 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Holy Father stresses God’s infinite love, not excommunication, today at...


Pope on spiritual versus material hunger and the path to God

August 4th, 2015 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Pope Francis is urging the Faithful to look beyond material...


Mourning for Cilla Black

August 3rd, 2015 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Tributes flood in for the Catholic family entertainer who died...


Holy Father’s prayers for youth and Syria

July 31st, 2015 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

POPE FRANCIS has pressed international leaders to free an Italian...




Social media

Latest edition

P1-AUGUST-7-2015

exclusively in the paper

  •  Glasgow Archdiocese is organising a pilgrimage to Rome for the Year of Mercy.
  • Reaction to MP’s claim that banning orders should be used against Christian teachers.
  • St Andrews and Edinburgh Lourdes volunteer Maria Capaldi, 100, passes away after 70 years of service.
  • ACN told of children used by jihadists in the DR Congo.
  • Hugh Dougherty: Should the Church in Scotland adopt a fresh approach to communications so that the Good News has more impact?

Previous editions

Previous editions of the Scottish Catholic Observer newspaper are only available to subscribed Members. To download previous editions of the paper, please subscribe.

note: registered members only.

Read the SCO