Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
He did it in front of hundreds of spectators.
He did it in front of hundreds of spectators.
What has happened?
A man caused a disturbing scene at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Friday morning, urinating on the Altar of Confession during a 9:00 a.m. mass.
The incident left hundreds of tourists in disbelief as it unfolded inside one of Christianity’s most revered sites.
Defiles sacred altar
Eyewitnesses say the man scaled the historic altar, dropped his trousers, and urinated in full view of the congregation.
According to Corriere della Sera, he acted “under the stunned gaze of hundreds of tourists,” turning the sacred ceremony into a moment of chaos.
Quick response from plainclothes officers
Security acted swiftly. Plainclothes officers moved in and ejected the man from the basilica.
Onlookers captured video footage of him pulling up his jeans and briefly exposing himself before being removed from the scene.
Unclear if Pope Leo XIV was present
It remains uncertain whether Pope Leo XIV was presiding over the mass at the time of the incident.
However, according to Il Tempo, the pope was informed shortly afterward and was reportedly “shocked” by the news.
No official Vatican statement yet
The Holy See Press Office has not yet issued a formal response.
Details about the man’s identity, motives, or whether he has been charged or arrested remain unknown at this stage.
Not the first altar intrusion this year
This is not the first time St. Peter’s Basilica has seen such an incident.
In February, another man jumped on the main altar, throwing six candelabras to the ground before attempting to remove the altar cloth. Security stopped him quickly.
Mental health cited in previous case
Following the February incident, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed the man involved had a serious mental health condition and was handed over to Italian authorities for further care.
2023 protest saw “Save children of Ukraine” message
In June 2023, a different man reached the altar in what appeared to be a silent protest.
He had “Save children of Ukraine” written across his back. The man cooperated with Vatican Gendarmerie and was later expelled from Italian territory.
Ongoing concerns about Vatican security
These repeated breaches have raised fresh concerns about the state of security at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Despite high-profile surveillance, individuals continue to find ways to access and disrupt the sacred altar.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
