Pro-Palestinian activists disrupt Mass in Paris church

Pro-Palestinian activist inside the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene during the protest that disrupted Mass in Paris. Photo: YouTube screenshot

On July 26, 2025, a group of pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the evening Mass at the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene (La Madeleine) in Paris. The protest featured shouted political slogans and accusations that the Church was inactive in the face of events in Gaza, according to Boulevard Voltaire.

According to eyewitnesses, five individuals entered the church during the Liturgy. Waving Palestinian keffiyehs, they loudly chanted: “Long live Palestine!” and shouted words such as “Gaza” and “genocide.” The activists read aloud a statement that included accusations against Israel and called for an end to attacks on peaceful Palestinians as well as adherence to international humanitarian law. One slogan took aim at the Christian community: “What is the Church doing about this?”

The activists’ behavior provoked outrage among the faithful. Some parishioners attempted to restore order, while two police officers present in the church detained the protesters and called for reinforcements. Additional police arrived and removed the activists from the church. The group later stated that they planned similar actions in other churches in Paris.

Monsignor Patrick Chauvet, rector of La Madeleine and former rector of Notre-Dame Cathedral, filed a complaint regarding the incident. In a statement to Tribune chrétienne, he described the protest as a desecration of the sacred and an act of blasphemy. “It happened during Holy Communion – the most important moment for us Christians. This is a treasure. And they defiled it,” he said.

According to Chauvet, the protest was premeditated and deliberately timed to coincide with the Eucharist. When the priest attempted to engage the demonstrators in dialogue, one replied, “That’s right. Genocide in Gaza is more important.” To this, Monsignor Chauvet responded: “No – genocide is not more important than the Eucharist.”

It is worth noting that the incident at La Madeleine took place amid a rise in acts of vandalism against Christian holy sites in France. Just days earlier, unknown perpetrators twice attempted to set fire to the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Champs.

Earlier, the UOJ reported on a provocation staged by a group of transgender activists at Sretensky Monastery in Moscow.

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