Onlookers at Rome’s St. Peter Basilica watched in shock as a man bypassed several turn stiles and climbed up the Altar of the Confession, where he began to urinate “under the astonished gaze of hundreds of tourists” during the 9 am Mass on Friday. Video footage of the young man, with his pants dropped completely down around his ankles, has been widely circulated through social media. Plain clothes officers quickly intervened, arresting the man. The site is considered one of the holiest sites in Catholicism and is where Pope Leo often performs Mass for major events. The Pope has not released an official statement about the incident, but it has been reported that he was “shocked to learn of the news.”

The man responsible has not been identified. He was detained by Vatican police and later turned over to Italian authorities. Social media users were quick to condemn the act, with some questioning the Basilica’s security. “The Vatican needs to fire their security and hire people who know how to do the job. That guy should not have been able to get anywhere near the altar before being tackled and arrested,” said one user. “I hope this guy has mental problems, why would anyone want to do that?” asked another.

The altar was desecrated earlier this year in February when a man climbed the altar and threw down six candelabras. He then began to remove the altar cloth. He was also quickly detained and taken into Italian custody. He was later described as having a disability. “This is an episode of a person with a serious mental disability who has been detained by the Vatican Police and then placed at the disposal of the Italian authorities,” Vatican spokesperson, Matteo Bruni told ANSA. In a similar incident, a man climbed up the altar and began to completely disrobe himself in 2023. The man, who was Polish, had the words “Save children of Ukraine” written on his back. “As officers of the Vatican Gendarmerie approached, the man did not resist but cooperated as they led him to the police station inside the Vatican. After confirming his identity, he was handed over to the Italian police and issued an expulsion order,” Vatican News reported. The investigation into the current incident is ongoing. It is unclear if the man will be facing any charges.