Pope Francis blesses Amore the parrot after peace doves were attacked by other birds
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 9:15 
That's Amore ... Pope Francis gets acquainted with Amore the parrot in St Peter's Square.POPE Francis seems to have made up with the world of birds.
After his dove release went terribly awry on Sunday, Francis today gladly blessed and held a green parrot named Amore that was offered to him by his owner, Francesco Lombardi.
An audience with the Pope ... a girl kisses a parrot that had a meeting with Pope Francis. 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.
Feathered frenzy ... as tens of thousands of people watched in St Peter's Square, a seagull and a big black crow attacked two doves released as symbols of peace.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.
Peace offering ... Pope Francis called for harmony in Ukraine before symbolic peace doves released by two children in Vatican City were mauled by birds