The last Sunday in January is traditionally when the Pope, along with two children, release doves out of the papal studio window in a symbol of peace.

After the doves were attacked in 2014, however, a new peace symbol was adopted. Yesterday, the children released balloons into St. Peter's Square. 

The annual tradition was begun by the late Pope John Paul II, and was carried on for years without a hitch. Disaster befell the doves last year, however.

Immediately after a young boy and girl tossed the birds out of the window, one of them was chased and snapped upon by a seagull. Photographers captured the larger bird pinning the dove against a windowsill with its tail feathers clutched in its beak. 

The second dove was pursued by a crow, and was similarly pinned on a windowsill. The crow pecked the bird mercilessly as thousands of spectators watched below. 

The attacks brought criticism from animal rights groups, who condemned the practice of releasing doves. One advocacy organisation likened tossing doves into the square to a death sentence, as flocks of seagulls nest on the colonnade.

St Peter's Square is near the Tiber River and is often crowded - attracting hundreds of scavenging birds.

The Vatican did not mention last year's incident in their statement regarding Sundays messages of peace. A hot air balloon containing peace messages was flown over the square, and one of the children read a speech about peace before symbolic balloons were released.

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to calls for world peace by the Vatican.