Vatican City: A disturbing incident unfolded at St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday as a man climbed onto the Altar of Confession and urinated, leaving tourists in shock and prompting swift intervention by security personnel. According to reports by Corriere della Sera’s Rome edition, the act took place under the “stunned gaze of hundreds of visitors,” and video footage of the desecration quickly circulated on social media, sparking outrage among the faithful.
Il Tempo reported that plainclothes police officers inside the basilica immediately restrained the individual and escorted him out of the sacred space. While Pope Leo XIV was reportedly “shocked” upon learning of the incident, the Holy See Press Office had not issued an official statement as of October 11.
This act is part of a troubling pattern of attacks on St. Peter’s altar this year. In February, a man climbed the altar during a visit and threw six candelabras to the ground. In June 2023, a Polish man undressed and climbed the high altar while writing “Save children of Ukraine” on his back in marker; the Vatican responded with a penitential rite following that incident.
Authorities have not disclosed the motives behind Friday’s act, but security at the basilica has been stepped up in response to recurring incidents of vandalism. The episode has ignited discussion among visitors and churchgoers about safeguarding sacred spaces while maintaining public access to one of the world’s most revered religious sites.
The desecration underscores ongoing challenges faced by the Vatican in balancing the open accessibility of St. Peter’s Basilica with the need to protect the sanctity of its holy spaces. Local observers stress that preventive measures, including surveillance and rapid response teams, will be crucial to prevent further attacks on the altar from which the pope celebrates Mass.
The faithful and the Vatican community continue to call for respect for sacred spaces, reiterating that acts of vandalism violate not only religious tradition but the spiritual experience of millions of pilgrims who visit the basilica each year.