The main altar at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which was desecrated on Oct. 10, 2025. / Credit: Jorge Royan (CC BY-SA 3.0)
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 17:43 pm (CNA).
CardinalMauroGambetti,archpriestofSt.Peter’sBasilicaandvicargeneralofthepopeforVaticanCity,presidedOct.13overapenitentialriteofreparationatthemainaltarofthechurchfollowingaseriousactofdesecrationthathadtakenplaceonOct.10.
Afterapenitentialprocessionthatbeganat12:45p.m.localtime,Gambettisprinkledthealtarwithholywaterandincensedittopurifyit.
Therite,attendedbymembersofthechapteroftheVaticanbasilica,emphasizedaskingGodfor“forgiveness”forthedesecration,FatherEnzoFortunato,directorofcommunicationsforSt.Peter’sBasilica,toldACIPrensa,CNA’sSpanish-languagenewspartner.
OnFriday,Oct.10,amanwhoseidentityhasnotbeenrevealedwasarrestedbysecurityguardsafterheclimbedontotheAltaroftheConfession,locatedunderBernini’sbaldachin,andurinatedonitwhiletouristslookedoninastonishment.
PopeLeoXIVexpressedhisconsternationuponlearningoftheincidentandaskedGambetti
