As Pope Francis lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica from April 22 to April 25, 2025, a poignant and symbolic moment captured the attention of mourners and the global media: hundreds of white doves and seagulls were reported flying over St. Peter’s Square. This phenomenon, which occurred during the days leading up to his funeral on April 26, 2025, was interpreted by many as a spiritual farewell to the beloved pontiff, known for his humility and advocacy for peace. However, the event also invites scrutiny about its authenticity and significance, given past incidents involving doves at the Vatican and the emotional context of Francis’s passing.
The Scene: Doves and Seagulls in the Vatican Sky
Following Pope Francis’s death on April 21, 2025, from a stroke and heart failure, his body was transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica on April 23 to lie in state, allowing the faithful to pay their respects. During this period, reports emerged of hundreds of birds—described as white doves and seagulls—circling over St. Peter’s Square at night. A video circulating on social media, initially posted by the @romeing_magazine account on TikTok and later shared by outlets like El Canciller and Revista PODER, captured the scene, showing flocks of birds illuminated against the night sky. By April 24, the Vatican reported that 90,000 people had visited Francis’s body, and the sight of birds overhead added an emotional layer to the already charged atmosphere.
Many interpreted the event as a divine sign, with posts on X reflecting a mix of awe and reverence. One user described it as Francis “returning to God on a chariot of doves,” while another called it a “final farewell” from nature. The timing—coinciding with the days his body lay in state and peaking just before his funeral—fueled the narrative of a spiritual tribute, especially given Francis’s association with peace, a trait often symbolized by doves. His namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, further amplified this interpretation, as did his own history of releasing doves as gestures of peace during his papacy.
A History of Doves at the Vatican: Symbolism and Controversy
Doves have long been a symbol of peace in Christian tradition, rooted in the biblical story of Noah, where a dove brought an olive branch to signal the end of the flood. The Vatican has often used doves in symbolic gestures, particularly during Pope Francis’s tenure. However, these releases have not always gone smoothly. In January 2014, two white doves released by children alongside Francis during an Angelus prayer for peace in Ukraine were attacked by a seagull and a crow in St. Peter’s Square. The incident, witnessed by tens of thousands, saw one dove lose feathers while the other was repeatedly pecked, with their ultimate fate unclear. Avian expert Kenn Kaufman, quoted by Audubon, explained that the doves, bred in captivity and pure white, were likely targeted due to their “helpless behavior” and striking color, which made them easy prey for opportunistic birds like gulls and crows common in Rome.
The 2014 event led to significant backlash from animal rights groups, prompting the Vatican to replace doves with balloons for peace gestures starting in 2015. A petition by Chris Wolverton, signed by nearly 77,000 people, urged the switch to inanimate alternatives like paper cranes, arguing that the attacks symbolized violence, not peace. The Washington Post reported that previous popes, including John Paul II and Benedict XVI, had also faced issues with doves returning to the Apostolic Palace or being attacked, highlighting the challenges of using live animals in such settings.
Analyzing the 2025 Event: Symbolism or Natural Occurrence?
Given this history, the reported flight of doves over St. Peter’s Square in 2025 raises questions about its authenticity and meaning. The video of the birds is real, as confirmed by Spain’s Newtral website, which verified the footage from @romeing_magazine. However, the claim that these were “white doves” is inaccurate—image analysis reveals that most of the birds were seagulls, a common sight in Rome, especially near the Tiber River and St. Peter’s Square at night. Posts on X and reports from outlets like Boatos.org note that seagulls flying over the Vatican, even at night, is not unusual, often driven by lights, human activity, and noise, all of which were abundant during the large-scale mourning events for Francis.
The narrative of a spiritual “farewell” to Pope Francis, while emotionally compelling, lacks evidence. Scientifically, the birds’ behavior can be explained by environmental factors rather than a supernatural connection to the pope’s passing. Seagulls and doves are typically diurnal, making their nighttime activity notable but not unprecedented in a bustling urban setting like the Vatican during a major event. Some posts on X speculated that the video might be AI-generated, but these claims were debunked by the verified footage, though they reflect a broader skepticism about such phenomena in the digital age.
It’s also worth considering the emotional context. Francis’s death, coming just a day after he blessed the faithful on Easter Sunday, stirred deep grief among Catholics worldwide. The sight of birds overhead, especially given the cultural association of doves with peace and the Holy Spirit, naturally lent itself to spiritual interpretations. However, this narrative may oversimplify a more mundane reality, projecting human longing for meaning onto a natural occurrence. The Vatican itself has not commented on the event, which further suggests it was not an orchestrated or officially recognized sign.
A Critical Reflection: What Does This Mean?
The flight of birds over St. Peter’s Square while Pope Francis lay in state is a beautiful image, but it also highlights the human tendency to seek symbolism in moments of loss. Francis, who died after a stroke exacerbated by chronic health issues like double pneumonia and bronchiectasis, was a pontiff deeply associated with peace—his final Easter message called for ceasefires in global conflicts, and his 2015 encyclical Laudato si’ linked care for the environment with care for the poor. The idea of doves honoring him aligns with his legacy, but the reality of seagulls and the Vatican’s past struggles with dove releases temper this romantic notion.
This event also underscores the challenges of public rituals in the modern era. The Vatican’s shift to balloons after 2014 reflects a pragmatic response to animal welfare concerns, yet the natural presence of birds during Francis’s lying in state shows how nature can still play a role in sacred moments—intentionally or not. However, the environmental impact of such events, as noted by the Marine Conservation Society in the context of balloon releases, reminds us to balance symbolism with responsibility. Perhaps the Church could explore new traditions, like planting trees or creating art, to honor peace without risking harm to wildlife.
A Moment of Unity in Mourning
Ultimately, the sight of birds over the Vatican while Pope Francis lay in state became a shared moment of reflection for the 90,000 mourners who visited his body and the millions watching worldwide. Whether a divine sign or a natural occurrence, it offered a glimmer of hope amid grief, reminding us of Francis’s message of peace and unity. As the Church moves into the conclave to elect the 268th pope, this image will linger as a testament to Francis’s enduring impact—a humble shepherd whose legacy continues to inspire, even in the flutter of wings above St. Peter’s Square.
What did you find most meaningful about Pope Francis’s lying in state? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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