Heartless thieves steal statue from outside convent visited by Pope John Paul II

Thieves have caused outrage by stealing a statue of St Bernadette from outside a convent once visited by the Pope.

The Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth community is in Prestwich, next to Nazareth House care home and a church. Its nuns noticed their beloved statue had been taken earlier this week - but are unsure exactly when it disappeared.

Nicky Lyndsay, manager of the Nazareth House care home, said: "The nuns noticed it had gone on Tuesday but it is thought it was stolen sometime last week. It was one of two statues. The second in an archway and we are worried that might be taken too. The one that was taken was in a little garden at the front of the convent."

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The ornament was fixed in the garden facing another statue of the Virgin Mary depicting the moment St Bernadette had visions of Mary when she was a teenager.

In May 1982, the Sisters of Nazareth welcomed the then Pope John Paul II who arrived at the convent before before making history in nearby Heaton Park becoming the first Pope to visit Britain. More than 250,000 people packed into the park to hear the Pontiff celebrate Mass from a specially constructed open-air altar.

The Pope’s helicopter touched down at the nearby Convent of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth - as they were known then - at 8.10am and he spoke warmly to nuns and staff before proceeding to the park.

Locals have reacted angrily to the theft. One posted online: "Shame on them". Another said: "The same thing happened at St Mary's in Langley. Just no respect these days, very sad."

Yazzo Khan posted: "Omg I have no words. How this is even possible in this day and age with cameras everywhere is beyond me.