VATICAN CITY - During Pope Francis’ Angelus to a packed St Peter’s Square on Oct. 13, We are Church (WAC) raised a banner reading “EQUALITY” in support of the pontiff..

 However, within five minutes, the seven WAC representatives were ordered to take down their banister  and were detailed by the police for up to 4 hours.

 We Are Church have released a statement saying that they believe “expressing support for Pope Francis with a banner for EQUALITY as followers of Jesus should be readily acceptable”, but they accept “the need to protect the pontiff from attack and the long queues and security checks are essential and warranted.”

 WAC has criticised the action of the Vatican security accusing them of only promoting conservative voices, even when many reform voices also support the pontiff.

 WAC believes that “unity in diversity must apply in the Vatican City state as well as in the global church.”

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