The Bishop of Setúbal, Américo Aguiar, described encountering a “horror scene” beyond his imagination at the Alhos Vedros cemetery in the Moita municipality, Setúbal, which was vandalized on Monday night.
In a statement, the cardinal revealed encountering “dismembered bodies” in a “ghastly scene” on Tuesday morning.
“Broken mausoleums, coffins smashed open, dismembered corpses—never in a horror movie have I seen, or thought I would see in real life a scene that deeply saddened me regarding those deceased, their families, and the community”, Américo Aguiar had previously told Renascença.
“The most defenseless beings are our deceased brothers”, he added, describing the scene as “unimaginable”.
The cardinal disclosed that approximately “four or five” mausoleum chapels were desecrated, unable to specify the number of disturbed bodies.
Speculating on the motives for such actions, Américo Aguiar noted that it might be an “act of malice, madness, someone not in their right mind”. He expressed his inability to imagine the circumstances leading to an act “with such malice and precision”.
The cemetery vandalism was revealed by the cardinal after the Diocese of Setúbal released a statement in which Américo Aguiar expressed “deep sadness and genuine dismay” upon learning of the desecration. “I visited and prayed.”
The cardinal was informed by the Adros Velhos parish priest, who also notified the Municipality. Upon arrival at the cemetery, law enforcement, firefighters, civil protection, the National Republican Guard, and the Institute of Legal Medicine were already present.
Officials present included the presidents of the Alhos Vedros Parish Council and Moita’s Municipal Council.
