Pope's peace doves attacked by seagull and crow

VATICAN CITY, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- The white peace doves that Pope Francis and two children released during the Angelus Prayer in St. Peter's Square on Sunday didn’t make it very far before they were attacked by a seagull and a crow.

The two doves were released from a window of the Apostolic Palace as a symbolic gesture for peace in Ukraine, where ongoing protests have resulted in a number of deaths.

A seagull pinned one of the doves against the palace and pecked at its feathers until the victim was able to fly away. A crow attacked the other dove as it sat on a windowsill.

Following the attacks, tens of thousands of onlookers watched as the doves flew off, both appearing to be uninjured.

The release of the doves marked the end of the Vatican’s annual Caravan of Peace event.

During the ceremony last year, one of the doves was also attacked by a seagull.

[Daily Mail] [The Independent]