(ANSA) - Vatican City, December 19 - A man who lit himself on fire in St Peter's Square on Thursday is in critical condition, the Vatican press office said. At around 8:30 local time the 51-year-old covered himself in gasoline from a bottle and set himself alight. The first person to come to his aid was a Jesuit priest, who through his frock and jacket on top of him. Soon two police officers arrived and put out the flames with a fire extinguisher. The motives for the unidentified man's act are unknown. At the scene of the fire, police found a piece of paper with his daughter's phone number written on it. The case recalled another case 15 years ago when Alfredo Ormando, a gay man, set himself ablaze in St Peter's Square to protest the Church's stance on homosexuality. He died days later.
Man sets self on fire in St Peter's Square, condition grave
Priest, police put out flames, motive unknown
![(foto: ANSA)](/webimages/img_457x/2013/12/19/ddc3eef8930cdf14c7a7fe5da7a57c92.jpg)