Candelabra damaged after man mounts Vatican altar

The man, of Romanian origin, knocked off six candelabra worth about $50,000 and removed the white altar cloth before officers stepped in.

Mobile phone footage circulating on social media showed the man standing on the altar. Picture: X

A man jumped on to the altar of St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, knocking off six candelabra worth €30,000 euros (about $50,000) before officers intervened, reports said.

BREAKING: A man, reportedly Romanian, broke through barriers at the Vatican today and kicked the candles and altar cloths off the high altar.
Footage was posted earlier today on social media. pic.twitter.com/e3qk4PV12r

— Michael Haynes 🇻🇦 (@MLJHaynes) February 7, 2025

The man, of Romanian origin, was stopped by members of the Vatican security force during the incident on Friday morning and then reported to the tiny city state’s inspectorate for security, the AGI and ANSA news agencies said.

Mobile phone footage circulating on social media showed a man standing on the altar under the towering Baldachin canopy, kicking off the candelabra and then removing the white altar cloth before officers stepped in.

The altar was built above the tomb of Saint Peter, who in the Christian tradition was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.

It is covered by the 29m Baldachin, comprising four bronze columns and a canopy by Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini.