ROME -- A man who attacked two friars in the capital’s Basilica of St. Mary Major with a piece of glass has been arrested, police said Monday.

 Renzo Cerro, the 42-year-old homeless man from Roccasecca in the province of Frosinone who attacked the friars, suffers from psychological problems, and already had a criminal record, Il Fatto Quotidiano writes.

 He entered the Basilica of St. Mary Major in the centre of the Eternal City and lashed out at a priest Fr. Adolfo Ralf, with a bottleneck, then seriously wounded the sacristan Fr. Angelo Gaeta, aged 52 -- both friars were received gashes to the face. Other observers were also present in the basilica at the time.

 The worst hit was the sacristan, who was immediately taken to hospital for deep wounds to his cheekbone and his chin.

 The priest -- a Father Superior of the Frias of Immaculate Conception -- was also taken to hospital, he too wounded to the face.

 The attacker was blocked by a patrol of Carabinieri police from Piazza Dante, who were on guard outside the church and were told by Renzo that “the Church does not understand me.”

 nkd