Pigs, ducks and horses gather at the Vatican for a blessing on Saint Anthony's day

Record ID: 164554

  • Title: Pigs, ducks and horses gather at the Vatican for a blessing on Saint Anthony's day
  • Date: 17th January 2017
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (JANUARY 17, 2017) (REUTERS) STALLS HOLDING ANIMALS, FLAGS AND BALLOONS WITH ST. PETER'S BASILICA IN THE BACKGROUND WOMAN TAKING PICTURE OF HER PARTNER AND CHILD NEXT TO COW / BULL IN STALL STALLS HOLDING ANIMALS WITH ST. PETER'S BASILICA IN THE BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF CAGE HOLDING HENS, TURKEYS AND GEESE PEOPLE LOOKING AT PIGLETS PIGLETS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CATHOLIC NUN, SISTER URSULA, SAYING: ''God blessed everyone. All of creation. Therefore, animals are precious.'' (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN BREEDERS (AIA), ROBERTO NOCENTINI, SAYING: ''For us, this is a beautiful occasion. It is an important day also because our forefathers celebrated it, it has been going on for more than a thousand years and we are managing to keep celebrating it to this day. There are breeders and animals from all over Italy.'' (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) RENZO RICCI, SHEEP BREEDER FROM MASSA CARRARA, TUSCANY, SAYING: ''It is a tradition. God forbid (we don't do it). This morning the priest came to my sheep to bless them, placed the (image of) Saint (Anthony) in my stalls. It is a tradition of our grandfathers.'' CALF NEXT TO COW MAREMMANA COWS NUN LOOKING AT ANIMALS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CARESSING ANIMALS DONKEY IN ENCLOSURE VARIOUS OF DONKEYS DOG SNIFFING BAG FULL OF HAY MAN TAKING A SELFIE NEXT TO A DONKEY POLICEMEN WATCHING ANIMALS DONKEY BRAYING
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2017 12:25
  • Keywords: Vatican Italy animals blessing Saint Anthony
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • City: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015ZGWEAH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Thousands of people flock to the Vatican on a daily basis but on Tuesday (January 17) flocks of a different kind gathered near St. Peter's square.
    Cows, pigs, horses and animals of smaller dimensions were placed in stalls next to the Vatican in order to receive blessings on Saint Anthony's Day, the patron saint and protector of animals.
    Every year to mark the saint's day, members of the Association of Italian Breeders (AIA) turn the area into an impromptu farm with animals arriving from all over the country.
    "God blessed everyone. All of creation. Therefore, animals are precious," beemed Sister Ursula, a passing nun.
    ''For us, this is a beautiful occasion. It is an important day also because our forefathers celebrated it, it has been going on for more than a thousand years and we are managing to keep celebrating it to this day. There are breeders and animals from all over Italy,'' explained President of AIA Roberto Nocentini.
    ''It is a tradition. God forbid (we don't do it),"said Tuscan sheep breeder Renzo Ricci, who said his grandfather used to bring his sheep to the Vatican.
    Saint Anthony was born in Portugal in 1195 and eventually became a Franciscan monk. He lived a very humble life and always showed a particular regard for animals. He died at the age of 35 and was made a saint only one year later.
    Certainly for the animals, it was a big day out. Some seemed to take things in their stride, but you always get the odd few that have to make a big fuss about everything.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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