A Montreal church says a small group set off a flare on its front steps while taking videos and pictures Saturday evening. Saint Joseph's Oratory had originally suspected an edited video of the event, which circulated on social media, was fake because it appeared to show a large bonfire on the church's steps at night. People stand outside the Saint Joseph Oratory in Montreal on Oct. 16, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
MONTREAL – A landmark Montreal church is confirming that a group of people ignited a flare – and not a bonfire – on the steps leading to the Catholic shrine on Saturday.
Representatives of Saint Joseph’s Oratory had originally suspected that a video depicting the incident was fake because it appeared to show a large fire burning on church property at night.
The video that circulated on social media seemed to show people playing drums and chanting around a fire on the church steps.
Danielles Decelles, a spokeswoman for the oratory, says a soccer team and several fans were given permission from security guards to take photos and video on the steps of the church Saturday evening.
Decelles says a flare was set off during that time but no damage was caused and the soccer team left shortly afterwards without incident.
She says the event was minor and was not immediately reported by security guards to church management.
Constructed over several decades, the towering church on Mount Royal is a world pilgrimage site and receives millions of visitors per year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2023.
