Pope Francis on Sunday prayed for the start of a “constructive dialogue” in Ukraine, releasing two white doves to symbolize the hope for peace. However, the doves were immediately attacked by a crow and a seagull.

Addressing tens of thousands of people gathered in Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square for the Pope’s weekly Angelus prayer, the pontiff said that his thoughts and prayers were with the victims of the Ukrainian unrest.



“I am close to Ukraine in prayer, in particular to those who have lost their lives in recent days and to their families,” Pope Francis said.



He then raised hopes for a “constructive dialogue between the institutions and civil society,” urging both sides to avoid violence and reminding that “the spirit of peace and a search for the common good” should be “in the hearts of all.”



In a symbolic peace gesture, two white doves were then released by children standing alongside Pope Francis.

Bad omen? @DavidKenner Pope Francis's peace doves being attacked by crows,in the world's least hopeful symbolism ever pic.twitter.com/Nki2JbJMV6 — notanna1AnnaNotaro (@notanna1) January 26, 2014

But as soon as the birds took off, they were immediately attacked by a crow and a seagull.



The crowd gasped as one dove broke free from its seagull attacker, losing some feathers in the process. The other was less fortunate and was repeatedly pecked at by the crow before flying away.

It is not clear what happened to the doves after onlookers lost sight of them.

The awkward moment when the Pope releases peace doves at the Vatican and they're immediately mauled by vultures pic.twitter.com/JWcUNE4MTW — Aaron (@AaronsOnLine) January 26, 2014

Social networks immediately exploded with comments and interpretations of the incident; some perceived it as an “ill omen” while others simply described the situation as ironic.

ILL OMEN in St Peter's: Pope released 2 peace doves today--then gulls attacked them. http://t.co/qhP3rDMYBnpic.twitter.com/YrFYQPoD3B — p peter (@brpeterfj) January 26, 2014

Hundreds of protesters and police officers have been injured in violent riots in Ukraine. Investigators have been searching for shooters who, in separate incidents this week, killed several rioters and one policeman with rounds suitable for a sporting gun.