Gendarmerie Corps – the police force of Vatican City in Rome, Italy – took an American tourist into custody after he demanded to see the pope and damaged two busts, according to Il Messaggero.
After the American man in his fifties was told it would be impossible to see Pope Francis at around noon Wednesday, he threw an antique bust from the Chiaramonti museum on the ground, the outlet reported. Another fell as he tried to run.
He was “immediately blocked, calmed and handed over to the Gendarmerie,” according to a translated version of the paper’s the report. The man, described by Il Messaggaro as a middle-aged American of Egyptian origins, was taken to an internal barracks at the Vatican and then transferred to Italian authorities.
Fortunately, the incident did not result in too much damage. Both damaged busts, which were described as “minor works” were brought to a laboratory and experts are working to restore them.
“The shock in the Vatican for what happened was enormous,” said the translated Il Messaggero report. It added that the Chiaramonti gallery has a sophisticated surveillance system and caretakers on hand to protect items of value. Going forward, the Vatican is expected to discuss further strengthening security.
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