India, Oct. 12 -- Hundreds of tourists attending a morning mass at St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City were left horrified on Friday after a man urinated on the Altar of Confession, one of the holiest sites in the Roman Catholic Church.

According to a report by the New York Post, the shocking act occurred around 9 am inside the basilica when the unidentified man scaled the steps of the sacred altar, where the sitting Pope traditionally celebrates mass. The man dropped his pants and urinated on the marble floor of the holy site in full view of the congregation.

Videos captured by stunned onlookers showed the man bending down to pull up his jeans moments after the act. Police officers stationed nearby swiftly intervened, tackling and esco...