ROME, January 13 (RIA Novosti) – Four activists of Ukrainian feminist group Femen staged a topless protest for gay rights at the Vatican on Sunday as Pope Benedict XVI was reciting his prayer, local media said.

The activists with slogans "In Gay We Trust" painted on their backs, staged the protest by the Christmas tree in the center of St. Peter's Square.

The women were briefly detained by Vatican police, Agi news agency said.

Ukraine's radical feminist movement Femen was established in 2008 and devoted mainly to protests on women’s issues. Later the group made headlines for pro-democracy and anti-corruption protests in Russia, Ukraine and London.