An Italian artist stabbed in a church in Carpi amid controversy with traditionalists

A

. An Italian artist was lightly stabbed Thursday in a church in Carpi, Emilia-Romagna, where he was exhibiting his works. The man who attacked him also attacked a painting he considered blasphemous, police said. The diocese of Carpi, north of Modena, offered its full support to Andrea Saltini, condemning this

which occurred a few days before the Christian holiday of Easter.

The artist's works are exhibited in a church of the diocesan museum. Since its inauguration in early March, the exhibition entitled

(

) has sparked controversy within the traditionalist Catholic community. The ultraconservative anti-abortion association ProVita notably launched an online petition, signed by more than 30,000 people, asking the local Catholic hierarchy to remove the paintings, including one

. ProVita, however, published a press release on Thursday offering its

to the artist after this

.

Also read: Jean-Eric Schoettl: “Will blasphemy be reestablished in the name of respect due to others?”

On Thursday, the attacker, wearing a surgical mask and a wig, entered the Sant'Ignazio church with a knife and a can of spray. His intention was to damage the painting called

representing, seen from above, a Christ taken down from the cross and Longinus seen from behind, leaning over the body of which he hides the lower part of the stomach. The person tried to attack the painting with a knife. Present at the scene,

,” a police spokesperson told AFP. The injury would have occurred accidentally,

. "

The individual fled.

In a press release,

. The diocese had previously rejected accusations of blasphemy, hailing Saltini's work as a rare example of

. The paintings are inspired by episodes of the Christian faith, from the Immaculate Conception to the crucifixion of Saint Peter.