The incident occurred during the night of November 1–2 in Lwówek Śląski. As reported by the lwowecki.info portal, the eyes on the pope’s head on the monument in front of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary were painted over, tears were added, and an upside-down cross was painted on the mitre. The crozier that the pope had been holding was also stolen.
The church dean learned about the incident from the portal’s journalists.
It is not yet known who painted the pope’s head or why.
The incident may be connected to reports of the Vatican corporation covering up child sexual abuse. It is known that the Polish pope promoted bishops on several occasions who had been accused of child sexual abuse or molesting seminarians. Details of these events can be found in the book titled Gomora, written by the theologian and former Jesuit Stanisław Obirek and the lawyer Artur Nowak, who represents victims of sexual abuse by members of the Church.