The annual Vatican tradition of kids releasing doves for peace has changed to setting off balloons after the doves were attacked by birds shortly after launch during last year’s ceremony.
Balloons have replaced doves at the annual kids’ peace ceremony at the Vatican.
The purple, white, pink, and green balloons were set free on Sunday with no ill effects reported.
Pope Francis noted: “Here’s the balloons that mean, ‘peace.'”
The change was made when a seagull and black crow attacked the two doves last year shortly after they were set free.
The incident sparked protests by animal rights activists who argued against using doves for the ceremony.
Pope Francis, named after the patron saint of animals Francis of Assisi, did not mention last year’s bird attack nor did the Vatican.
The tradition began in 2005 when Pope John Paul II allowed kids to release two doves in honor of children living in war-torn countries.
That initial effort didn’t go as smoothly as expected either, as the
