|
Peace dove or homing pigeon?
30/01/2005 21:40 - (SA)
Vatican City - Pope John Paul II tried to release a dove out of his apartment window on Sunday as a symbol of peace, then chuckled with children who watched in delight as the bird flew back into the room overlooking St. Peter's Square.
The pontiff was addressing thousands of young people from an Italian Catholic organisation who marked January as a month to promote peace.
He was flanked at his studio window by two eight-year-olds, a boy and a girl, who urged the world to remember children who live in war zones.
John Paul prayed that young people "who so desire peace, become courageous and tenacious builders" of peace.
Each of the children at his side sent a dove flying, but the white birds, perhaps alarmed by Rome's unusual cold spell, almost immediately darted back into his studio.
Laughing, the 84-year-old ailing pontiff seemed determined to set the symbol free.
He grabbed one of the doves as an aide returned the birds to the window sill, and he shooed it out the window and playfully patted the boy on the head.
After a quick flight over the square, the bird quickly fluttered inside again as the pope grinned.
- SAPA
|
South Africa
