Sacred Objects Damaged During Prayer in St Peter Basilica
An incident took place inside the Cappella del Santissimo Sacramento at the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome, where a man threw several sacred objects from the altar to the ground during Eucharistic adoration.
The incident occurred on 17 January 2026, when an adult man deliberately overturned candlesticks, an ostensorium, altar cloths, and the cross from the altar in front of a congregation gathered in prayer. The disturbance resulted in damage to the altar and sacred items, prompting the temporary closure of the chapel while staff restored order.
The episode was part of a broader pattern of repeated desecrations at St Peter’s Basilica, including an earlier case in October when a foreign visitor climbed onto an altar and urinated in view of other attendees (OIDAC reported).
Sources: zazoom.it, liberoquotidiano.it
Image: Wikipedia
