(LifeSiteNews) — The Catholic bishops of the Holy Land have issued their “unreserved condemnation” of a photograph showing an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in Lebanon.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and president of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, wrote in a statement on behalf of the bishops that “(t)his act constitutes a grave affront to the Christian faith and adds to other reported incidents of desecration of Christian symbols by IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon.”

“It further reveals a disturbing failure in moral and human formation, wherein even the most elementary reverence for the sacred and for the dignity of others has been gravely compromised,” the statement continued.

“The Assembly calls for immediate and decisive disciplinary action, a credible process of accountability, and clear assurances that such conduct will neither be tolerated nor repeated.”

READ: IDF admits photo of Israeli soldier smashing statue of Our Lord is real

Lebanon |

An Israeli soldier smashing the head of a Jesus Christ statue during operations in southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/Sj1m16tj9q

— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) April 19, 2026

The photo of the Israeli soldier went viral online over the weekend, leading to outrage among Christians. On Sunday, the IDF confirmed the picture was authentic and said, “Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings.”

“Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon,” the statement by the IDF reads.

According to the Times of Israel, the photo was taken in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon.

Both Jewish and Islamic extremists have a shared hatred of Christianity. We must pray for them.https://t.co/n0q54d9sLz pic.twitter.com/PRQVuR0Y4o

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Israel has increased its military attacks in Lebanon against Hezbollah since the start of the Iran war in late February, including hundreds to thousands of airstrikes. These strikes have killed at least 1,500 people (combatants and civilians), injured thousands more, and displaced over one million people. Many civilians, including Christians, have chosen to stay in their homes despite the risks, for fear of Islamic militants taking over their property once they leave.

Last month a Maronite Catholic priest in Lebanon was killed following the IDF bombing of the predominantly Christian town of Qlayaa. The Cradle reported that Father Pierre al-Rahi “succumbed to his injuries after being wounded by Israeli artillery shelling that targeted a residential neighborhood in the town.”