Man desecrates altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, detained by security

Man Desecrates Altar of St. Peter's Basilica

A man was detained by security after urinating on the Altar of Confession of St. Peter's Basilica on Friday.

According to the Roman newspaper Corriere Della Sera, the man climbed the altar and "urinated under the stunned gaze of hundreds of tourists."

The man climbed the altar and "urinated under the stunned gaze of hundreds of tourists."

Video of the desecration was widely shared on social media.
The man was escorted out of the church by plainclothes police officers, as reported by Il Tempo.

Pope Leo XIV was reportedly "shocked to learn of the news", although the Holy See Press Office had not released a statement about the incident.

This incident is not the first time the altar has been vandalized this year.

Author's summary: A man desecrated the altar of St. Peter's Basilica by urinating on it.

Catholic News Agency — 2025-10-14