A purification ceremony was recently held at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City after a man urinated on the Altar of Confession, a sacred site marking the burial place of St. Peter.
The ceremony, which included prayers and the sprinkling of holy water, aimed to restore the sanctity of the space and seek God’s forgiveness.
The desecration occurred during a Holy Mass, when the unidentified man climbed the altar steps, dropped his pants, and urinated on the holy grounds.
Witnesses described the incident as “absolutely shocking” and “deeply disrespectful.”
This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks on the holy site.
In February, a man damaged candelabras on the altar, while in June 2023, a Polish protester staged a nude demonstration atop the altar with the phrase “Save children of Ukraine” written on his back.
Following the 2023 incident, the Vatican held a penitential rite to restore the site’s sanctity.
The purification ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, who led the congregation in reciting the Creed and sprinkling holy water over the altar.
The Vatican has not released an official statement on the incident, but Pope Leo XIV is reportedly “shocked” by the news.