Man Caught 'Urinating' On Sacred Vatican Altar During Mass, Shocking Hundreds Of Worshippers

Outrage has erupted across religious communities online after a shocking video surfaced showing a man urinating on an altar inside Vatican City during a morning Mass service.

The incident happened on October 10 at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the Holy Mass began as usual around 9 a.m. Hundreds of worshippers and tourists were in attendance, filling the pews for the sacred ceremony.

Witnesses say that during the service, an unidentified man suddenly approached the Altar of Confession — one of the most sacred and revered sites in the Catholic Church — and caused a scene that left the congregation stunned.

According to reports, the man walked straight up to the altar, pulled down his pants, and began urinating on it — the same papal altar where Pope Leo XIV regularly leads Mass and prayer. The act left bystanders horrified as several people shouted in disbelief.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera stated that plainclothes Vatican police officers who were already present in the basilica quickly intervened. They restrained the man and escorted him outside before the situation could escalate further.

It remains unclear whether Pope Leo XIV was in attendance at the time. When asked for comment, a Vatican spokesperson told Stuff: "This is an episode of a person with a serious mental disability, who has been detained by the Vatican Police and then placed at the disposal of the Italian authorities"

Viral footage saw a man urinating in one of the holiest Catholic sites X/@Vitus_oss

Authorities have not yet released information about whether the man has been formally arrested or charged following the incident. However, Italian outlet Il Tempo reported that the Pope was “shocked” when informed about what had happened at the Altar of Confession — a site located beneath Michelangelo’s breathtaking dome.

Footage capturing the moment quickly went viral on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where clips of the event were reposted by outraged users. Many expressed disbelief that such a desecration could occur in what is considered the holiest place in Christendom.

Reports claim the unnamed man was escorted from the Holy church X/@Vitus_oss

Sadly, this isn’t the first time vandalism has disrupted worship inside the iconic basilica. Earlier this year, another man caused damage by climbing onto the holy altar and toppling six candelabras, shocking clergy and tourists alike.

At the time, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni released a statement through ANSA that read: "This is an episode of a person with a serious mental disability who has been detained by the Vatican Police and then placed at the disposal of the Italian authorities."

The repeated incidents have raised concerns about security inside the basilica, as the number of visitors to St. Peter’s continues to grow each year.

In a separate case from June 2023, a nude protester climbed onto the High Altar with the words “Save children of Ukraine” written across his back. Security guards from the Vatican gendarmerie immediately intervened, covering the man and urging him to come down from the sacred site.

That same altar offers a direct view of Saint Peter’s tomb, located beneath the basilica floor — one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the world.

The incident was widely condemned by religious leaders, who called for deeper respect toward places of worship.

After that protest, the Vatican carried out a penitential rite to purify and restore the altar’s holiness, as required by liturgical law. Such rituals are performed when a sacred space has been desecrated, ensuring it is once again suitable for prayer and Mass.

According to Silere non possum, this process serves to “restore the holiness of the place and to ask God’s forgiveness for the offense committed.”

Following the recent urination incident, Vatican officials are expected to perform another similar rite to re-consecrate the Altar of Confession and reaffirm its sacred significance.