PETA Activists Urge Pope to Condemn Bullfighting at Vatican

Two PETA activists interrupted Pope Francis' audience, demanding the Catholic Church denounce bullfighting. Wearing t-shirts reading 'Stop blessing corridas' and carrying banners that read 'Bullfighting is a sin', they urged the Pope to cut ties with this blood sport. The Vatican has not commented yet.

Two activists from the animal rights group PETA interrupted Pope Francis' general audience on Wednesday, vocally condemning bullfighting and displaying protest banners before being escorted out of Paul VI Hall.

Sporting t-shirts that read ''Stop blessing corridas'' and holding signs stating ''Bullfighting is a sin'', the activists urged the Catholic Church to sever its ties with bullfighting and labeled it a 'despicable blood sport'.

PETA reports that tens of thousands of bulls are killed globally in bullfighting festivals dedicated to Catholic saints. These events see bulls subjected to severe pain and movement restriction as mounted assailants thrust lances and banderillas into them. The Vatican did not offer an immediate comment on the protest.

British priest Terry Martin joined PETA's campaign, urging Pope Francis to denounce bullfighting. PETA cited Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', which condemns cruelty to creatures, noting that Pope St. Pius V banned bullfights in the 16th century for their cruelty.

(With inputs from agencies.)