The Pope made these remarks on Wednesday while addressing a general audience about Saint Joseph. The earthly father of Jesus.
Francis was appreciative of Joseph’s decision to bring Jesus into “the highest forms of love” as he focused on adoption and orphans today. Then he turned his attention to couples who choose animals over children.
“We see people don’t want kids, or just one more. And many, many couples don’t have kids because they don’t want to, or they just have one — but they have two dogs, two cats.” .. Yes, dogs and cats take the place of children,” said the Pope. “Yeah, it’s funny, I understand, but it’s reality. And this denial of fatherhood or motherhood diminishes us, it takes away our humanity. And thus civilization becomes old and without humanity, Because it loses the prosperity of fatherhood and motherhood. And our motherland suffers because it has no children.”
The pope’s remarks, although surprisingly coming from a progressive pontiff, echo the teachings of the Catholic Church about the importance of couples who either give birth or have children – and the potential demographic consequences of not doing so. .
Francis said couples who cannot biologically have children should consider adoption.
Francis said, “How many children in the world are waiting for someone to take care of them.” “Having a child is always a risk, either naturally or by adoption. But not having them is risky. Denying paternity or denying motherhood is risky, whether real or spiritual.”
However, over the years Pope has been photographed with several animals. They are seen tending dogs, a koala and a tiger, holding birds and carrying a lamb on their shoulders.