Activists in favour of women priests light pink flares close to Vatican

(12 Mar 2013) SHOTLIST AP TELEVISION 1. Close up of pink smoke, with the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica visible in the background 2. Activists singing the "Ubi Caritas" hymn 3. Various of women singing 4. Woman holding pink flare 5. Close of pink smoke masking view of the cupola of St Peter's Basilica in the background 6. Women standing together to the flare dispersing pink smoke 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Miriam Duignan, Communications coordinator of the association "Women can be priests": "The Catholic church should be a healthy and vibrant place with equality, with both men and women called to the priesthood. Jesus did not exclude women. Jesus encouraged women and actively sought to include them. So why do the cardinals who are supposed to represent Jesus, make a point of actively excluding women, of telling them to be quiet? And of criminalising anybody that speaks out in favour of women priests?" 8. Cutaway of pin reading (English) "Ordain Women" 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Miriam Duignan, Communications coordinator of the association "Women can be priests": "The people are ready, and priests are ready, and a lot of bishops are ready. Are the cardinals ready? There are some, who I think secretly would desperately love to have women priests." 10. Placard reading (English) "Women priests are here" 11. Pink smoke rising STORYLINE A group of women activists with representatives from several countries on Tuesday called for cardinals to consider the ordination of women. The women, from Australia, United states, and Great Britain, gathered on a balcony in Rome overlooking St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican singing a hymn and symbolically releasing pink smoke, mimicking the puffs of smoke emerging from the chapel chimney indicating whether cardinals have decided on a new pope. They began their protest as cardinals in the Vatican gathered to celebrate Mass for the election of the new Pope, the so-called "Pro Eligendo Pontifice" Mass. The activists from an association called "Women can be priests" are asking the College of Cardinals to allow women to be ordained. "Jesus did not exclude women. Jesus encouraged women and actively sought to include them. So why do the cardinals who are supposed to represent Jesus, make a point of actively excluding women," asked Miriam Duignan, the communications coordinator of the association. 115 cardinals will participate in the vote to elect a new pope. While the cardinals are widely expected to cast the first ballot on Tuesday afternoon, technically they don't have to. In conclaves past, the cardinals have always voted on the first day. The first puffs of smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney should emerge sometime around 8 pm (1900GMT). Black smoke from the burned ballot papers means no pope. White smoke means the 266th pope has been chosen. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/f38be3d4fa1776f2e1df44f627d24d90