This Friday, a strange and concerning incident occurred at the St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. A man with a backpack managed to bypass security and attacked the main altar of the church, right beneath the famous Bernini’s Baldachin, which had been recently restored.
The vandal destroys chandeliers and desecrates the altar
The man climbed onto the altar and, without mercy, kicked and knocked over six 19th-century bronze chandeliers, valued at approximately 30,000 euros. As the pieces crashed to the floor, creating a loud noise, tourists and pilgrims couldn’t believe what they were seeing. The man, instead of stopping, violently ripped off the white lace tablecloth covering the marble altar and threw it to the ground. At that moment, several Vatican gendarmes arrived and subdued him.
🔵 #Vaticano Un uomo, originario della Romania, ieri è salito sull’Altare della Confessione della Basilica di San Pietro, accanendosi contro 6 candelabri del 1865 (valore circa 30 mila euro). Fermato prontamente dalla Gendarmeria Vaticana, è stato identificato e denunciato pic.twitter.com/QlgcciOUIT
— Rai Radio1 (@Radio1Rai) February 8, 2025
The vandal identified and released
The man was identified as a 40-year-old citizen from Romania. Many of the tourists and pilgrims present at the Basilica at that time recorded the attack, and the images went viral quickly. Although the vandal was detained, the authorities decided to release him, while the Vatican filed a criminal complaint against him for the damages caused. The motive behind the attack is still unknown.
Preventive measures for the Jubilee
The incident has raised concerns, especially with the Jubilee approaching. To prevent similar incidents, the Vatican has clarified that it will impose severe penalties on anyone who violently disrupts the Vatican City.
St. Peter’s Basilica: The heart of the Catholic Church
The St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest Catholic church in the world, covering an area of 2.3 hectares and capable of holding over 60,000 people. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is the burial site of St. Peter, who, according to Catholic tradition, was the first Pope.
The construction of this majestic church began in 1506, replacing an earlier basilica built under the emperor Constantine I. The work was completed in 1626, with major architects such as Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno, and Bernini contributing to the design.
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