Damascus, Dec 20 (SANA) – The authorities in Damascus, the Syrian capital, confirmed Saturday the theft of the statue of Saint Paul, granted in 1999 by the Pope of the Vatican to the Church of the Monastery of Saint Paul, located in the Bab Kisan area of Old Damascus.
In a statement, the Damascus Press Department clarified the circumstances of the incident, following the spread of contradictory reports.
It noted that it carried out a field visit to the site of the theft, gathered testimonies from the church administration and witnesses, and coordinated with the police station of the capital’s Qassaa neighborhood to review the preliminary results of the investigation.
According to the available information, the stolen statue is made of solid copper and was gifted to the church on the occasion of the Pope’s historic visit to Damascus, which gives it high religious, cultural, and symbolic value.
Initial investigations indicate that the theft occurred around 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, and was carried out by several individuals using simple tools, without resorting to heavy machinery.
Authorities believe the main motive was the economic value of the copper, describing the perpetrators as individuals driven by profit, with no other objectives identified so far.
The relevant authorities assured that it continues to closely monitor the progress of the investigation, in coordination with the competent bodies, in order to fully clarify the incident and strengthen the protection of the city’s religious and heritage sites.
ME
