Animal rights activists staged a brief protest during Pope Francis' general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, targeting bullfighting. The activists, affiliated with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), disrupted the event by climbing over barriers and entering the aisle of the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. They wore T-shirts with the message 'stop blessing corridas' and held signs declaring 'bullfighting is a sin'.
The activists managed to approach the pope closely before security personnel intervened and escorted them out of the building while they continued to display their signs. This incident occurred as Pope Francis resumed his weekly general audiences after a month-long summer break.
Notably, a similar protest by PETA had taken place in January during a service for Christian unity led by Pope Francis at the Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls in Rome, attended by the UK's Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
The protesters are advocating for the condemnation of bullfighting by the Catholic Church, citing that priests still offer blessings to bullfighters. They seek Pope Francis' explicit denouncement of the practice, despite historical opposition from the Church. In the 16th century, Pope Pius V had issued a papal injunction against bullfighting.
While Pope Francis has not publicly addressed bullfighting specifically, he has consistently emphasized the importance of environmental protection throughout his papacy. This incident underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the ethics of bullfighting and the role of religious institutions in addressing animal rights issues.
