To millions of Christians, they are a symbol of peace.

But to a pair of larger birds, the two doves released in the Vatican yesterday were nothing more than a chance for a bit of Sunday morning sport.



No sooner had the birds been set free in St Peter’s Square – as a symbolic gesture of peace for Ukraine – than they were set upon by a seagull and a crow.

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Go: Pope Francis is joined by two children who release doves during the Angelus Prayer in St. Peter's Square

Windowsill: A seagull attacks a dove released by a child from the papal window during Francis's prayer

Off they fly: Francis was celebrating the prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square

Attack: Two white doves had been sent fluttering into the air as a peace gesture by Italian children

The two larger birds swooped on the defenceless doves during the Pope’s weekly Sunday Angelus prayer in front of tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in the Vatican.



After saying a prayer for Ukraine, where at least three people were killed during the latest clashes that have seen Kiev in flames, the Pontiff helped schoolchildren release the doves from the window of the Apostolic Palace as a peace gesture.

But they were immediately attacked. The seagull pinned one of the doves against the wall of the palace and pecked at its tail, but was left with a mouthful of feathers as its victim made an escape.

The crow caught the smaller bird unawares, as it rested on a windowsill, before pecking at it repeatedly. Again, the victim managed to get away.

Eventually both doves flew off, seemingly uninjured, to the relief of tens of thousands of onlookers.



The release of the birds concludes the Vatican’s annual Caravan of Peace event.



Last year one of the doves was set upon by a gull, while in 2012 they simply flew back into the Apostolic Apartments.



While speaking at the window beforehand, Francis had appealed for peace in Ukraine, after at least three people were killed during the latest clashes in the two-month crisis.