Bad Omen?
Or just "Omen"?
In a final gesture at the Vatican's annual "Caravan of Peace," Pope Francis watched with a wide smile as two children at his side released a pair of white doves from the window of the Apostolic Palace in a gesture of peace.
Unfortunately, a seagull and a large black crow had others ideas, sweeping down on the hapless doves as tens of thousands of people jammed into St. Peter's Square looked on.
One dove managed to break free from the seagull, losing a few feathers in the brawl. The crow had a better grip on the other dove, pecking the bird repeatedly.
In the end, both doves got away, although the extent of their injuries wasn't immediately clear.
The boy looked upset at the bird's misfortune, prompting the Pope to embrace him and pat his head. The young girl appeared to be laughing at the unexpected turn of events.
Speaking at the window beforehand, Francis had appealed for peace in Ukraine, where anti-government protesters have died.
It wasn't the first time that peace got a rough ride at the annual event, however. The Independent reports. Last year, at the same event, a lone gull attacked two doves on a similar peace mission. The pair, however, quickly turned around and -- perhaps fittingly -- found refuge inside the Vatican.
Birds attack peace doves freed from pope's window
Offbeat | Associated Press | Updated: January 26, 2014 20:29 IST
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A dove which was freed by children flanked by Pope Francis during the Angelus prayer, is attacked by a seagull in St. Peter's Square.
Vatican City: Two white doves that were released by children standing alongside Pope Francis as a peace gesture have been attacked by other birds.
As tens of thousands of people watched in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, a seagull and a large black crow swept down on the doves right after they were set free from an open window of the Apostolic Palace.
One dove lost some feathers as it broke free from the gull. But the crow pecked repeatedly at the other dove.
It was not clear what happened to the doves as they flew off.
While speaking at the window beforehand, Francis had appealed for peace in Ukraine, where anti-government protesters have died.
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The Social Climber: Pope Francis' Peace Doves Attacked, Royal Rumble 2014 Winner Isn't Prince William
Jan. 27, 2014
By ABC NEWS
1
Pope's Peace Doves Attacked
Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo
All we are saying is give peace a chance, but a black crow and a seagull seemed to disagree.
Shortly after Pope Francis appealed for an end to unrest in Ukraine on Sunday, two white doves were released by children standing next to him as a symbol of peace, according to the Associated Press.
The crow and the seagull promptly waged war on the beautiful white birds as tens of thousands of people watched in St. Peter's Square, the AP reported.
With a few feathers lost, the doves managed to break free and fly away, though it's unclear what happened to them.
Despite the dustup, the Social Climber still believes world peace is possible.
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