Reliquary of Saint Boniface Under Investigation
Italian police are seeking help identifying a reliquary of Saint Boniface that may have been stolen from a Benedictine church. Officials invite Benedictine communities to assist in the investigation.
Photos courtesy of Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale Nucleo di Bari
6 June 2025
Authorities from Italy’s cultural heritage protection unit have asked the Benedictine Confederation for assistance in identifying a reliquary believed to contain the remains of Saint Boniface. The object, currently in the possession of the Carabinieri in Bari, may have been taken unlawfully from a Benedictine church or monastery.
Photos of the ornate reliquary were submitted to Sant’Anselmo in Rome by Matteo Scozzi, a police officer assigned to the investigation. It is not yet clear when or from where the object was removed.
Those with information that might help establish the reliquary’s provenance are encouraged to contact Officer Scozzi directly at: tpcbanu@carabinieri.it
Five images of the object have been made available on this post for reference.
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