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2 clusters · 4 sources · 1 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: CULTURE

International repatriation of stolen religious art

Entities: Santa Rosa de Lima sculpture · Monastery of Santa Clara de Fitero · Juan de Anchieta school · Epazoyucan, Hidalgo · Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela

Overview

In early August 2026, Mexican authorities announced the return of a 17th‑century wooden sculpture of Santa Rosa de Lima that had been stolen from the chapel of Santa Mónica in Epazoyucan, Hidalgo, during a 2007 raid. The piece was recovered through the #MiPatrimonioNoSeVende campaign, restored by INAH specialists, and handed back to the local community, marking a significant step in recovering the chapel’s historic retablo.

The next day, Spanish police reported the recovery of a 16th‑century polychrome wooden relief attributed to the school of Juan de Anchieta, which had been stolen from the Monastery of Santa Clara de Fitero in Navarre in 2010. After passing through the Madrid Rastro market and several private hands, the relief was intercepted in Barcelona before an auction and returned to the Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela.

Both reports highlight ongoing challenges in art‑theft investigations and demonstrate the role of international cooperation and provenance checks in protecting cultural heritage.

Timeline

  1. 3 days ago

    [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Recovered Stolen Religious Artworks Returned in Spain and Mexico

    Police in Spain and Mexico recovered stolen religious artworks—a 16th‑century Spanish relief and a 17th‑century Santa Rosa sculpture—returning them to their rightful owners after years of illicit trade.

  2. 4 days ago

    [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Santa Rosa de Lima sculpture returned to Hidalgo, Mexico

    A 17th‑century Santa Rosa de Lima sculpture stolen in 2007 has been repatriated from the US and returned to a chapel in Hidalgo, Mexico; other stolen images remain missing.

Sources

diariolaprovinciasj.com · excelsior.com.mx · hojaderutadigital.mx · inversion.es