In Italy, Catholic diocese rents out church property to a witchcraft school

Illustration for the “Academy of Witchcraft” organized in Piacenza. Photo: DR

On October 20, 2025, in the Diocese of Piacenza–Bobbio in northern Italy, one of the Church’s properties – the Villa La Bellotta – was rented to a company organizing an event titled “Academy of Timeless Witchcraft.” The news was reported by Tribune Chrétienne.

The event, scheduled for October 24–26, is presented as a fantasy role-playing game, yet many believers believe it promotes occult practices incompatible with the Christian faith.

Following criticism from Catholics, the Diocese of Piacenza–Bobbio stated that the event “does not have an esoteric character” and that the villa is open for cultural and recreational initiatives. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism, as the Academy’s program includes topics such as magic, divination, and the study of occult symbols, which directly contradict the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The company organizing the event is already known for similar projects: in 2018, it staged a performance called “The Curse of the Altars” in a castle near Parma, in which religious imagery was used in a parodic form. This has further angered believers, who view the organizers’ actions as blasphemous.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that LGBT activists in Italy plan to hold a Pride parody of the Way of the Cross.

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