Man climbs naked on altar in St. Peter’s Basilica – that’s behind Two dead after attack on border between Israel and Egypt

After a naked man climbed onto the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican announced a so-called penitential liturgy on Saturday. This ritual is celebrated by the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, as the official news portal Vatican News reported on Saturday, citing the Vatican press office. Gambetti, who is also president of the workshop of St. Peter’s Basilica, will celebrate the rite at noon at the central altar of confession in response to the “desecration”.

sign of solidarity

According to Italian media, on Thursday evening, shortly before the closure of St. Peter’s Basilica, a man climbed onto the main altar under Bernini’s famous canopy. There he undressed and stood naked on the marble surface. Photos of the incident subsequently circulated on social media. You could see how on the man’s bare back it read: “Save the children of Ukraine” in English.

As Vatican News further reported, it was a “man of Polish nationality in an altered emotional state”. The man was therefore taken away by security forces of the Vatican Gendarmerie. He was later handed over to the Italian police, who issued an exit warrant.

Just two weeks ago there was a security incident in the Vatican. An apparently confused man had driven his car into the Vatican, causing a great alarm. The car sped through a checkpoint and reached the front door of the Apostolic Palace. (cst/sda/dpa)