A group of demonstrators protesting against the Roman Catholic Church's stance on homosexual marriage tried to enter St Peter's Square in the Vatican on Sunday as Pope Benedict was giving his weekly address to pilgrims.
The protesters – who were kept out of the square by police –
were upset over a speech by the pontiff on Friday in which he
appeared to include efforts to legalise gay marriage among the
threats to peace in the world.
“We find intolerable the assertion that gay unions are
dangerous to the world. Weapons are much more dangerous,”
Gianfranco Mascia, 52, an activist who organised the protest
told Reuters. “No to arms, yes to rights for everyone,”
The group of about 15 people held up signs reading “Gay
unions don’t harm peace, weapons do” in various languages.
