By Mark Tanos
A man urinated on the Altar of Confession at St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday before security removed him from the Vatican landmark.
The man climbed onto the altar and relieved himself as tourists watched, according to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera. Video of the incident spread across social media. The desecration took place Friday at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, the outlet reported.
The man evaded turnstiles that surround the altar beneath Bernini’s baldachin and quickly went up the steps before committing the act, local outlet Il Tempo reported. Plainclothes police officers stationed in the basilica quickly reached the suspect and escorted him out of the church. Pope Leo XIV reportedly learned of the desecration and expressed shock. (RELATED: Pope Leo Wants Traditional American Catholic Conservatives To Help With Vatican’s Finances)
Footage appears to show a man with his pants down as if to urinate as a man tries to restrain him. Another man shows up and the two seemingly take the suspect away.
VATICAN CITY—CONFIRMED that a man desecrated the Papal Altar of St Peter’s Basilica, at 9:30AM yesterday morning, by urinating on it in the presence of hundreds of pilgrims.
Holy Mass was being celebrated, at the time, at the Altar of the Chair.
— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) October 11, 2025
The altar has faced previous incidents. In February, a man allegedly climbed on top of it and threw six candelabras to the ground, Italian news agency ANSA reported. In June 2023, a Polish man allegedly took his clothes off and climbed onto the altar with “Save children of Ukraine” written on his back, according to the Catholic News Agency.
The Altar of the Confession sits directly above the tomb of St. Peter and serves as the site where the pope celebrates mass. Canon 1211 of the Code of Canon Law requires public worship to stop after grave acts that cause scandal to the faithful. A penitential rite must be performed before services can resume.
