UPDATE May 19, 2023: The man arrested by the Vatican guards, after driving through the St. Anne’s gate last night, has now been moved to the psychiatric ward of the Santo Spirito in Sassia Hospital for mandatory medical treatment, the Vatican has announced.
The Holy See Press Office stated: “this afternoon, at the end of the interrogation by the magistrate in the presence of his attorney, and having ascertained his condition, the driver of the motor vehicle that illegally entered the Vatican last night was taken to the psychiatric ward of the Santo Spirito in Sassia Hospital for mandatory medical treatment.
The man has now been named as 40-year-old Simone Baldovino, who has a history of drug abuse. Ansa news agency reported that Baldovino had already tried to enter the Vatican City State twice yesterday, both times being unsuccessful.
Citing high-level sources, Ansa wrote that Baldovino wished to speak to Pope Francis.
Baldovino, even though he got past the two guard posts, was unable to go any further than the San Damasso courtyard, as security alerts had ensured that his access to the Pope’s current residence was closed off.
VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — A man is being held in custody after driving his car at speed through one of the Vatican gates Thursday night, and being shot at by the guards.
Around 8 p.m. local time on May 18, a man in his 40’s drove at high speed through the Vatican gate of St. Anne’s situated to the north of St. Peter’s Square.
In a statement issued by the Holy See Press Office around 10:30 p.m., it was revealed that the intruder first attempted to enter Vatican City with his car but was prevented by the Swiss Guards. The Swiss Guards maintain a permanent guard at the gate.
When the Guards informed him that he did not have the necessary permit to enter the gate, he reversed and then “re-entered at high speed, forcing the two control gates, of the Swiss Guard and the Gendarmerie Corps of the Vatican City State.”
Having seen the man drive past the Swiss Guards, “the Gendarmerie inspector guarding the gateway fired a gunshot in the direction of the vehicle’s front tires. Despite hitting the vehicle on the left front fender, the car continued on its way,” the Holy See’s Press Office reported.
The car managed to reach the internal San Damaso Courtyard within the Vatican City State. This is where visiting heads of state are received and events like the annual swearing in of the new Swiss Guards take place.
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The press office stated that, once there, the intruder “got out independently and was stopped and placed under arrest by the Gendarmerie Corps.”
He did not manage to get behind St. Peter’s Basilica, nor did he approach the hotel where Pope Francis lives on the south side of the Vatican.
The man was reportedly “immediately examined by doctors from the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, who found that he was severely psychophysically impaired.”
As of last night, he is remaining in custody in a cell at the Vatican’s “Gendarmerie Barracks, at the disposal of the Judicial Authority.” No further information has been given by the Holy See Press Office regarding the situation, and no-one has reported being injured from the event.
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