A man was forcibly removed from St. Peter’s Basilica after urinating on a Vatican altar during a holy mass as hundreds of shocked people looked on.
Video of the incident shows the man walking up the steps of the Altar of the Confession, where the pope typically celebrates mass, before pulling down his pants and urinating. The act occurred during the 9 am holy mass, startling visitors nearby, per the New York Post.
Police quickly intervened, pulling the man away. As the man was attempting to pull his jeans back up, he exposed his backside to the crowd. He was detained and taken off the basilica grounds shortly afterward.
The Altar of the Confession sits directly beneath Michelangelo’s dome and is considered one of the holiest sites in Catholicism. Millions of visitors pass through St. Peter’s Basilica each year, and the altar is where the pope often performs Mass.
The Vatican has not yet released an official statement, though reports indicated Pope Leo was informed of the incident and was “shocked to learn of the news,” according to Fox News.
This is not the first time in recent years that the basilica has been targeted by acts of desecration. In February, an individual damaged ceremonial items on the altar before being detained by Vatican police. At the time, a spokesman said the person had a “serious mental disability” and was turned over to Italian authorities.
In June 2023, another incident occurred when a naked Polish man leapt onto the same altar with the words “Save children of Ukraine” written on his back. Following that episode, the Vatican performed a penitential rite to cleanse the grounds.
