Overview

• Organizers claimed one million participants, while the Rome police estimated roughly 250,000 at the daytime demonstration.
• After the march ended, masked antagonists split from the crowd and clashed with police, with fires, vandalism and confrontations recorded around Via Merulana, Manzoni and Santa Maria Maggiore.
• Authorities reported 41 injured among security forces and said at least two people were arrested, with about 262 individuals identified for referral to judicial authorities.
• Carabinieri found the statue of Pope John Paul II near Termini defaced with an insult and a hammer‑and‑sickle symbol, activated removal procedures and began reviewing surveillance footage to identify those responsible.
• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other senior officials condemned the profanation and praised law enforcement for managing the demonstration and subsequent unrest.