Two activists stopped the Popemobile in Monaco to urge Pope Leo XIV to condemn bullfighting, sparking global debate on faith and animal welfare.
Newsroom (30/03/2026 Gaudium Press ) Two activists briefly blocked the Popemobile on Saturday during Pope Leo XIV’s high-profile visit to Monaco, interrupting the pontiff’s motorcade in a dramatic demonstration against bullfighting.
Videos widely circulated online show the women leaping in front of the slowly moving Popemobile before kneeling on the roadway, holding placards aloft. Their protest, staged along the Pope’s motorcade route, halted the vehicle for several moments as security intervened. Members of the papal security detail swiftly restrained the demonstrators, bringing them to the ground before escorting them away from the scene.
The animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) later claimed responsibility for the protest. In a statement, the group said the activists sought to draw attention to “the Church’s moral responsibility to denounce cruelty,” specifically urging Pope Leo XIV to speak out against bullfighting and any ties between ecclesiastical circles and the centuries-old tradition.
“Bullfighting is torment, not culture,” the group asserted, reaffirming its call for religious leaders to take a definitive stand. While bullfighting remains legal and culturally entrenched in parts of Spain, France, and Latin America, the practice continues to face widespread condemnation from animal rights organizations worldwide.
The Vatican has yet to issue an official response regarding the protest or the subject of bullfighting. Historically, Church leaders have offered varied positions. In the 16th century, Pope Pius V famously condemned bullfighting, classifying it as a spectacle incompatible with Christian values. More recently, Pope Francis has repeatedly emphasized human responsibility toward nature and animals in his encyclical Laudato si’, framing compassion for all creatures as a moral duty.
Despite the disruption, Vatican News described the overall visit as successful. Archbishop Dominique Marie David of Monaco characterized the day as “exceptionally rich” and “intense,” highlighting the spiritual depth of the nearly nine-hour papal trip. The brief protest, while striking, did not overshadow the central themes of the visit, which focused on unity, dialogue, and the Church’s engagement with contemporary global issues.
The Monaco incident has nonetheless ignited renewed discussion about the intersection of faith, tradition, and modern ethics — a debate that now extends beyond the small principality and into the global public arena.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from katholisch.de
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