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 .
the vatican said thursday the 51 - year - old man was treated at a nearby hospital and transferred to a larger one , with serious burns to the upper part of his body .
man sets self on fire in st peter 's square , condition grave priest , police put out flames , motive unknown ( 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 .
the first person to come to his aid was a jesuit priest , who through his frock and jacket on top of him .
a vatican statement says a jesuit priest initially tried to smother the flames with a jacket .
the man had a piece of paper with his daughter .
at around 8:30 local time the 51 - year - old covered himself in gasoline and set himself alight .
soon two police officers arrived and put out the flames with a fire extinguisher .
he was later joined by two police officers who used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze .