A man arrested after damaging the candelabras in the Saint-Pierre basilica

A man went up on the altar of the Saint-Pierre basilica at the Vatican on Friday, dropping six precious candelabra before being arrested, according to media. The man, of Romanian origin, was arrested by Vatican security members after this incident that occurred on Friday morning, according to AGA and Ansa press agencies.

Videos circulating on social media have shown a man standing on the altar, dropping the candelabras and removing the white tablecloth from the altar before the security intervention.

Largest Catholic church in the world

With an area of ​​2.3 hectares and a capacity of more than 60,000 people, Saint-Pierre de Rome is the largest Catholic Church in the world. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it houses the burial of Saint Peter which, according to Catholic tradition, was the first bishop in Rome, therefore the first pope.

Its construction, at the site of the ancient Vatican basilica built under the Emperor Constantine I, began in 1506 and ended in 1626. Its most important architects were Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno and Bernin.