Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis seems to have made up with the world of birds.
After his dove release went terribly awry on Sunday, Francis gladly blessed and held a green parrot named Amore on Wednesday that was offered to him by his owner, Francesco Lombardi.
Francis initially drove by Amore during his general audience, but then doubled back and took the bird for a few seconds on his finger. Lombardi said Amore parroted back the "Papa" that the crowd was chanting.
The scene wasn't so peaceful on Sunday, when children flanking Francis set free two white doves from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square. The birds were soon attacked by a crow and seagull. Animal rights activists have urged Francis end the tradition, saying domesticated doves can't survive in the wild.
(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
