A special penitential rite of reparation was celebrated by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the pope's vicar, at the Vatican Basilica following the serious act of desecration on October 10th. (SEE https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2025/10/breaking-man-desecrates-vaticans-saint.html)The rite took place at the central altar of St. Peter's Basilica on October 13, 2025, in the afternoon.
On October 10th, Friday afternoon, a video broadcast by several media outlets displayed a man undressing at the Altar of Confession, the high altar of St. Peter's Basilica. The man urinates, or tries to, before a security guard intervenes.
The Church dictates that if a church is desecrated by certain acts, the damage needs to have a penitential rite celebrated by the local bishop. St. Peter's Basilica's archpriest is Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, who acts as the pope's vicar.
St. Peter's Basilica has witnessed acts of desecration in recent years. On June 1, 2023, a half-naked man with the words "Save the children of Ukraine" written on his chest climbed onto the altar. Two days later, a penitential rite was celebrated.
On February 7 of this year, a man managed to reach the altar, where he removed the altar cloth and threw six candlesticks to the ground.
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