A man arrested for ramming his car
through an entrance to the Vatican on Thursday evening had
wanted to speak to the pope, qualified sources told ANSA on
Friday.
Simone Baldovino, aged 40, had already tried twice to enter the
Vatican on Thursday afternoon, but was turned away on both
occasions by Swiss guards.
He is thought to have no link with the Vatican.
On Friday afternoon, following questioning by judicial
authorities, Baldovino was admitted to the psychiatric ward of
the nearby Santo Spirito in Sassia hospital for mandatory
medical treatment, the Vatican Press Office said in a statement.
Earlier the Holy See said the man, who drove his car through the
Santa Anna gate at high speed around 8 pm on Thursday, forcing
two checkpoints and reaching the St. Damasus Courtyard of the
Apostolic Palace before being arrested, had mental health
problems.
He was examined by Vatican doctors, who found him to be in a
"serious state of psychophysical alteration," a statement said.
He was also reported to have a record for drugs offences.
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