Vatican City: In a solemn response to a shocking act of desecration at St. Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of the Basilica and vicar general of the Pope for Vatican City, presided over a penitential rite of reparation at the church’s main altar on Monday. The ceremony was held to restore the sanctity of the sacred space and seek divine forgiveness following the incident that occurred on October 10, 2025.
The rite began with a penitential procession at 12:45 p.m. local time, moving solemnly through the basilica before reaching the Altar of the Confession, located beneath Bernini’s iconic baldachin. Once at the altar, Cardinal Gambetti sprinkled it with holy water and incensed it, a symbolic act of purification and spiritual restoration. The ceremony was attended by members of the chapter of St. Peter’s Basilica, who joined in prayers for forgiveness and reconciliation.
According to Father Enzo Fortunato, director of communications for St. Peter’s Basilica, the liturgy emphasized the need to ask God’s pardon for the violation of the sacred space. The penitential rite was performed at the direct request of Pope Leo XIV, who expressed deep concern upon learning of the desecration. The Pope tasked Cardinal Gambetti with conducting the act of reparation to reaffirm the basilica’s sanctity and offer spiritual consolation to the faithful.
The incident involved a man, whose identity has not been disclosed, climbing onto the Altar of the Confession and urinating on it in full view of astonished tourists. Security personnel quickly apprehended the individual, but the act left the Vatican community shocked and prompted immediate measures to reaffirm the sacredness of St. Peter’s.
This event marks the second serious desecration at St. Peter’s Basilica in under a year. In February 2025, a man caused extensive damage to parts of the main altar, destroying several candelabras. Earlier, in June 2023, a Polish national stripped naked atop the same altar as a protest against the war in Ukraine, further highlighting the vulnerabilities of the holy site.
Cardinal Gambetti’s act of reparation, marked by solemn prayers, the sprinkling of holy water, and incensation, serves as a reaffirmation of the spiritual significance of St. Peter’s Basilica. It also underscores the Vatican’s commitment to maintaining the sacred character of one of Catholicism’s most revered sites, reminding the faithful of the enduring need for reverence, prayer, and communal respect in the presence of holy places.
The Vatican continues to review security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring that St. Peter’s remains a sanctuary of worship and devotion for pilgrims and visitors from around the world.