Skip to content

Judge orders psychiatric treatment for man who forcibly entered Vatican

A view of Vatican City State

A Vatican magistrate has sentenced the unidentified man who forcibly entered Vatican City on Thursday night to mandatory psychiatric treatment, according to the Holy See press office.

The man was taken into Vatican custody on the night of May 18 after driving a car at high speed through a gate at the Vatican, bypassing the checkpoints of both the Swiss Guard and Gendarmes.

After being questioned in the presence of his lawyer on Friday afternoon, the man “was taken to the psychiatric ward of Santo Spirito in Sassia Hospital for mandatory medical treatment,” the Holy See press office said in a brief statement May 19.

The incident leading to the man’s arrest happened after 8 p.m. on May 18 at one of the main entrances to Vatican City by car.

The entrance at Sant’Anna Gate is located north of St. Peter’s Square and next to the Swiss Guard barracks. The press office said the man, estimated to be in his 40s, initially approached the gate in his vehicle and was turned away because he lacked the proper authorization to enter.

After leaving, he turned his car around and drove at high speed, forcing his way through the gates manned by the Swiss Guard and the Gendarmes, according to a statement issued Thursday night by the press office.

A gendarme stationed at the Sant’Anna entrance fired his weapon in the direction of the vehicle’s front tires, hitting the left front fender, the statement said, but the vehicle proceeded onto Vatican territory until the driver got out of his car at the San Damaso Courtyard, the central courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, where he was placed under arrest.

He was checked out by doctors from the Vatican’s health and hygiene office and found to be in “a serious state of psychophysical alteration,” the press office said.

The man was held overnight in a Vatican prison cell.

 

This article was originally published on Catholic News Agency.

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

From papal secretary to nuncio? Report of a diplomatic role for Gänswein unconfirmed

Not for the first time, it has been reported that Pope Francis is considering a diplomatic role for

The origins of the Feast of Saint Peter and Paul in Rome

Rome celebrated its Patron Saints Peter and Paul on June 29th. The holiday is an important liturgical feast.

Pope Leo XIV prays for Madagascar after twin cyclones

In his catechesis before the Angelus, Leo said Jesus fulfills the Law by calling Christians beyond minimal righteousness

Pope Francis skips Via Crucis in Rome while tens of thousands pray his meditations

In an apparent last-minute decision, Pope Francis skipped the Way of the Cross ceremony held at Rome’s Colosseum

Pope Francis creates independent supervisory commission for Rome Diocese

Pope Francis on Wednesday created a new independent supervisory commission for the Diocese of Rome. The commission will

Cuba’s Release of Prisoners Motivated by Economics and Politics, Expert Says

Cuba’s release of 553 prisoners is seen by analysts and opposition as a “swap” to gain U.S. economic benefits, including removal from the terrorism sponsor list.

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNVatican.com