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St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most important religious and architectural landmarks in the world. Built over the tomb of St. Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, the Basilica has been a holy place of pilgrimage for centuries. The current structure, completed in the 17th century, replaced the original 4th century church and remains a masterpiece of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The great baldachin, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, covers the high altar, where important liturgical celebrations presided over by the Pope take place. With its massive dome and iconic sculptures, including Michelangelo's Pietà, the Basilica attracts millions of visitors each year.
Saint Peter's Basilica vandalized
This week an act of vandalism took place inside the Basilica. A man from Romania climbed onto the main altar and knocked over six gold candlesticks worth about $31,000. Video footage circulating on social media shows the man pulling at the altar cloth before being stopped by security in front of stunned tourists. Vatican officials said the suspect suffers from serious mental problems and was detained by Vatican gendarmes before being handed over to Italian authorities. While the Pope was not present at the time of the incident, the event has raised concerns about the security of one of Christianity's holiest sites.
Despite its spiritual significance, St. Peter's has been the target of vandalism over the years. In 1972, Michelangelo's Pietà was damaged by a hammer-wielding assailant, leading to the installation of protective glass. More recently, in 2019, an individual threw a candelabra off the main altar, an incident reminiscent of what just happened. The basilica has been preparing for an influx of visitors ahead of the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee, and security measures have been increased to protect its sacred artifacts. It seems to me a total lack of respect to enter these places to destroy, now it was just a few candlesticks, but it could have been worse and destroyed objects hundreds of years old.
Michael Bay's Vatican 'Arrest'
In a lighter but equally surprising Vatican-related event, Hollywood director Michael Bay recently claimed he was "arrested" after tresing in the Holy See. The filmmaker, known for action-packed blockbusters like Transformers and Bad Boys, shared a video documenting his so-called Vatican adventure. The clip, titled "The Great Vatican Break In," shows Bay sneaking into restricted areas and jokingly insisting he needed to "talk to the Pope" before being hauled away by Vatican police. While some believe it was just a publicity stunt, others speculate it was an elaborate prank. Either way, Bay certainly knows how to create a spectacle - both on and off screen.