A strange incident took place this Friday at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City when a man carrying a backpack suddenly evaded security and attacked the church’s main altar, located beneath the newly restored Baldachin by Bernini.
The man climbed onto the altar of the Catholic temple, kicking and toppling six 19th-century bronze candelabras, valued at approximately 30,000 euros. As the loud crash of the falling pieces echoed through the basilica and murmurs spread among tourists and pilgrims, he continued his act of vandalism—bending down to rip off the white lace-trimmed cloth covering the marble altar and violently throwing it to the ground. At that moment, Vatican gendarmes approached and managed to subdue him.
Vandalismo en el Vaticano: Un hombre irrumpió en el altar mayor de la Basílica de San Pedro en el Vaticano, derribando candelabros y retirando el mantel sagrado. Fue rápidamente reducido por la seguridad. pic.twitter.com/AmpEYTgAxI
— News Vaticano 🇻🇦 (@news_vaticano) February 7, 2025
According to the ANSA news agency, the vandal was identified as a 40-year-old Romanian citizen.
The attack on the altar was recorded by many tourists and pilgrims present at the time, and the footage has since gone viral.
After being identified, the man was released, though the Vatican has filed a criminal complaint against him for damages, according to Italian media reports. His motives for the attack remain unknown.
With the upcoming Jubilee and the possibility of similar incidents increasing, the Vatican has reinforced its regulations, specifying penalties for those who violently disrupt the Pontifical State.
Covering an area of 2.3 hectares and accommodating over 60,000 people, St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest Catholic church in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it houses the tomb of Saint Peter, who, according to Catholic tradition, was the first Bishop of Rome and, therefore, the first Pope.
Built on the site of the old Vatican basilica commissioned by Emperor Constantine I, its construction began in 1506 and was completed in 1626. Some of its most renowned architects include Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno, and Bernini.
