St Peter’s Steps Up Security Without Turning Into a Fort

The Vatican plans to tighten safety inside St Peter’s Basilica after a few vandal incidents, but officials want to keep the site from feeling like a military base. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti said that more than 20 million people visited the basilica last year, and that the recent trouble was a tiny fraction of the total footfall. He explained at a press briefing that new, subtle measures will be introduced ahead of the 400th anniversary of the cathedral’s dedication. Presently, visitors undergo a screening process before entry and a small team of 40 to 60 security staff patrols the interior. The Cardinal emphasized that the added precautions should not strip away the sense of freedom people feel when they step inside. Gambetti warned journalists against encouraging copy‑cat behavior, noting that social media makes it easier for people to imitate violent acts.He urged a broader collaboration between institutions and the media to educate the public and prevent future incidents. The security debate has been sparked by a series of stunts around the main altar, which sits beneath a Baroque canopy crafted in the 17th century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s workshop. Last October, a man was caught urinating on the altar; in February 2025 another climbed onto it and knocked down several candlesticks. Earlier, a Polish protester stripped naked and scaled the altar to protest the war in Ukraine. The Cardinal acknowledged that some offenders may be highly vulnerable and that society must address deeper weaknesses. He pointed out that current challenges are far beyond what people could have imagined two decades ago, underscoring the need for thoughtful solutions rather than heavy-handed tactics.