The lesbian Vice President of the European Parliament has presented the Pope with a rainbow scarf.

@UlrikeLunacek hat heute Papst Franziskus einen Regenbogen-Schal für Lesben, Schwule und für Frieden übergeben. pic.twitter.com/RnkPdc7gUN — Grüne Österreich (@Gruene_Austria) November 25, 2014

Austrian Green MP Ulrike Lunacek made the symbolic gesture yesterday, during the Catholic leader’s visit to the European Parliament.

The Catholic Church last month ditched plans to relax its anti-gay policies – and the Pope recently hosted the leaders of listed anti-gay hate groups at a ‘traditional marriage’ conference.

Ms Lunacek – who was the first openly lesbian MEP in Austria – said: “Today I handed Pope Francis a rainbow scarf for gays, lesbians, and for peace.”

It isn’t thought that the Pope actually put on the scarf – but here’s an artist’s impression:

Earlier this year, the Green politician was reportedly attacked with butyric acid – which can cause pain, blistering, skin burns, and loss of vision – during Vienna’s pride parade.

Miraculously, no-on was harmed during the incident.

She also organised the performance of Eurovision drag singer Conchita Wurst at the European Parliament last month.



The Pope told an interfaith meeting of religious leaders last week: “We know that today marriage and the family are in crisis.

“This revolution in manners and morals has often flown the flag of freedom, but in fact it has brought spiritual and material devastation to countless human beings, especially the poorest and most vulnerable.”

He also invited representatives from the American Family Association and National Organisation for Marriage – both listed as active anti-gay hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Centre – to attend the summit.

AFA head Tony Perkins has been repeatedly by the Jewish Anti-Defamation League for repeatedly comparing gay rights to the Holocaust.