The Archdiocese of Évora has announced that the churches of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Monforte, Portalegre district, and São Bento do Zambujal in Redondo, Évora district, have been “burglarized in recent days,” with tiles stolen from both sites.
The first burglary occurred at the Monforte church, with a warning given by local parish council employees last Friday during “the cleaning of surrounding grounds,” the statement noted.
A GNR spokesperson informed Lusa on Monday that approximately 100 tiles were stolen from this church.
According to the Archdiocese of Évora’s document, Teresa Cunha Sardinha from Monforte’s Culture Department explained that “rug pattern (non-figurative) tiles” were stolen, resulting in the destruction of many others in the process.
“The case was reported to the GNR and then to the Judicial Police, who are conducting an ongoing investigation,” the statement reads.
The Monforte church, property of the Monforte Parish and located outside the urban area, was previously burgled about eight years ago, according to the archdiocese.
The other burglary, the religious institution added, occurred at the church of São Bento do Zambujal (Redondo), formerly the parish headquarters of the same name, dissolved in 1964.
The church, located in an uninhabited area, belongs to the Redondo Parish and sits on private estate grounds, with the owner reportedly raising the alarm, though the timing of the theft was not specified in the note.
Referenced in the statement, Father António Sanches indicated that “three panels of 18th-century tiles, out of a total of six, depicting the life of Saint Benedict,” were stolen.
The incident has been reported and is currently being investigated by the Judicial Police, the statement confirms.
The Archdiocese of Évora expressed “concern” over these burglaries and pledged to “closely follow the ongoing investigation processes”.
