Visitors at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City were left in shock on Friday morning, October 10, when a man urinated on the Altar of Confession, one of the most sacred sites in the Catholic Church, in full view of worshippers and tourists.
According to Corriere della Sera, the unidentified man breached security barriers and climbed the steps to the altar at about 9:30 a.m., where he proceeded to relieve himself. The altar is believed to rest directly above the tomb of Saint Peter, one of Jesus Christ’s chief apostles and the first pope.
Footage circulating on social media shows the man lowering his trousers and committing the act before being swiftly apprehended by plainclothes Vatican police officers. Witnesses described scenes of disbelief and horror, as several visitors gasped and others turned away in distress.
Eyewitnesses said the man made an obscene gesture toward the crowd before being taken into custody. He is now being detained by Italian authorities, who confirmed that a formal investigation is underway.
Reports from Vatican insiders say Pope Leo XIV was briefed on the incident and expressed deep shock. The Lepanto Institute, a Catholic organisation known for defending holy sites, has since demanded that the Altar of Confession be reconsecrated, calling the act “a grave desecration.”
The video of the incident has provoked widespread outrage online. Many devout Catholics described it as a “spiritual violation,” while others questioned whether the Vatican’s growing status as a tourist attraction has eroded the sanctity of its sacred spaces.
“Are we allowing disrespect because we no longer demand reverence?” one commenter asked on social media. “Maybe it’s time to stop treating cathedrals as tourist photo stops and enforce decorum.”
This is not the first time the Basilica has been targeted. In 2023, a naked man with “Save children of Ukraine” written across his back jumped onto the same altar. Earlier this year, another individual was arrested for vandalising sacred objects inside the basilica.
Following Friday’s incident, Vatican officials temporarily closed St. Peter’s Basilica to allow for cleaning and a security review, with calls growing for stricter access control to the church’s holiest areas.
