Pope’s company: Doves slow to taste freedom

VATICAN CITY: A pair of doves seemed to prefer the company of Pope Benedict XVI to the great outdoors on Sunday when he had trouble convincing them to take flight in a traditional peace gesture. The first dove hesitated on the windowsill of the pope’s Vatican apartment for a long spell before flying off, while the second flew back into the room before flying out again. “They want to stay in the pope’s home,” Benedict said, flanked by two children. The traditional release of doves, which the pope said was intended “as a sign of peace for the city of Rome and for the entire world,” takes place each year.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2012.