Pope parrot in ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

(ANSA) - Milan, August 26 - The so-called Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS research extended further into the animal kingdom on Tuesday after the parrot Amore known for being blessed by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square in February nominated Dudù, the dog owned by ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi and his partner Francesca Pascale, to take up the gauntlet in its wake. In a video the yellow-green parrot owned by former male stripper Francesco Lombardi could be seen having a bucket of crushed ice poured over its head as a voice off-screen invited the white maltese terrier to join the campaign to find a cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
    The campaign that began in the United States has been gaining ground in Italy in recent weeks with participation by Italian entertainers and politicians.
    On Friday Premier Matteo Renzi took the challenge and nominated retired football star Roberto Baggio, who helped raise funds for fellow player and ALS victim Stefano Borgonovo, school friend Paolo Livoli, a doctor who works with ALS sufferers, and the editors-in-chief of every news outlet in Italy, to do the same.