A man entered St. Peter’s Basilica and urinated on the altar of Confession in front of hundreds of tourists and worshippers, marking the third act of desecration at the site in two years. According to some news reports, the incident happened during the celebration of mass.
On October 10, 2025, a man entered St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, bypassed turnstiles surrounding the altar of Confession beneath Bernini’s Baldachin, and urinated on the altar in front of hundreds of tourists and worshippers. The Vatican Gendarmerie, present in plainclothes, apprehended the man shortly after the act. This incident followed two prior desecrations in February 2025 and June 2023, raising concerns about ongoing security lapses in the church at the heart of Catholic worship. Pope Leo XIV, upon viewing footage of the event, ordered a penitential and reparation rite to be performed as soon as possible "to restore the sanctity of the place and ask forgiveness from God for the injury committed."