American tourist toppled ancient sculptures in the Vatican because he wasn't allowed to meet the pope

An American tourist toppled two ancient Roman busts at the Vatican Museums on Wednesday after being denied a meeting with Pope Francis.

According to an anonymous source, the man, 65, was behaving strangely. Suddenly he knocked over two Roman busts off of their pedestals in the museum’s Chiaramonti hall, which houses one of the most important collections of Roman portrait busts.

The museum's staff restrained the tourist until the Vatican police arrived to arrest him. He was later turned over to Italian authorities, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office.

According to local news outlets, the man became angry because he was not allowed to meet with the Pope.  

Man toppled two ancient roman busts in vatican museum.

Chiaramonti hall has more than 1000 pieces. It is one of the most important collections of roman portraits. pic.twitter.com/bZHUXmjgaz

— Rabinder Kumar (@ptcalad) October 5, 2022

While the two 2,000-year-old busts were damaged, it was not severe, the source added. One of the busts lost part of its nose and an ear, the museum said.

The busts were taken to the restoration labs in the museum to be repaired. However, Vatican Museums spokesman Matteo Alessandrini said it would require about 300 hours of restoration work to reassemble the sculptures.

The Vatican museums received around 6 million visitors a year before the pandemic. The previous assault on Vatican artwork took place in 1972, when a Hungarian man jumped over the side altar in St. Peter’s Basilica and attacked Michelangelo’s Pieta with a sledgehammer, according to Reuters.

The Renaissance masterpiece was left without an arm and a chipped nose. Since then, it has been placed behind bulletproof glass.