Pope Francis has suggested people who choose to have pets over children are acting selfishly.

The Pope's comments came as he was discussing parenthood during a general audience at the Vatican in Rome.

"Today ... we see a form of selfishness," he told the audience. "We see that some people do not want to have a child.

"Sometimes they have one, and that's it, but they have dogs and cats that take the place of children.

"This may make people laugh, but it is a reality."

The practice "is a denial of fatherhood and motherhood and diminishes us, takes away our humanity", he added.

Pope Francis said that people who are unable to have children for biological reasons should consider adoption, urging people "not to be afraid" in embarking on parenthood.

He also spoke of a "demographic winter" - possibly referring to countries with declining birth rates - in which "we see that people do not want to have children, or just one and no more".

It is not the first time Pope Francis has taken aim at people who choose pets over children.

In 2014, he said that having pets instead of children was "another phenomenon of cultural degradation", and that emotional relationships with pets was "easier" than the "complex" relationship between parents and children.

The 85-year-old Pope has been photographed petting animals ranging from dogs to panthers in the past, but he is not thought to have a personal pet.

His 2015 visit to the United States was marked by dog owners dressing their pets in canine papal outfits with the hashtag #popedog on Instagram.

Asked at the time if the Pope was aware of the trend, a Vatican spokeswoman said: "I imagine he has more important things to think about."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59884801

The world needs more selfish people, all these religious baby lovers should be gone

BigSarah:
The world needs more selfish people, all these religious baby lovers should be gone

maybe we should remove you along.

Arthurity1:
maybe we should remove you along.

The day I become a religious baby lover, I should be removed

"Demographic Winter" - The Caucasian and Asian races are dyeing out. Their birth rates continue to plummet whilst Blacks/Africans continue to breed for fun.

Even China are in a panic - the one child policy is gone but they can't seem to up their birth rate.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utXybwSHhzY&t=4526s&ab_channel=TransAtlanticProductions

BigSarah:


The day I become a religious baby lover, I should be removed

Na! We should start now. Since you think you are better than everyone else and only you deserve to be alive, maybe we should remove you now.

Arthurity1:

Na! We should start now. Since you think you are better than everyone else and only you deserve to be alive, maybe we should remove you now.

Better than everyone else? Where did you get that from .

Get me a Sarco Pod and we'll talk

POOP TELL WHITE PEOPLE,HERE IN NAIJA,WE EAT,WETIN U DEY CALL PET

yeye people!!!!
- some people out there are great pet owner and lousy parents. do you want them to still have kids?!
- some people out there aint got the emotional/physical/financial means to be great parents so therefore they get a pet in the meantine.
- getting a pet is the substitute for people who aint ready/willing to have kids

BigSarah:
The world needs more selfish people, all these religious baby lovers should be gone

ROFLMAO

Sunofgod:
Pope Francis has suggested people who choose to have pets over children are acting selfishly.

The Pope's comments came as he was discussing parenthood during a general audience at the Vatican in Rome.

"Today ... we see a form of selfishness," he told the audience. "We see that some people do not want to have a child.

"Sometimes they have one, and that's it, but they have dogs and cats that take the place of children.

"This may make people laugh, but it is a reality."

The practice "is a denial of fatherhood and motherhood and diminishes us, takes away our humanity", he added.

Pope Francis said that people who are unable to have children for biological reasons should consider adoption, urging people "not to be afraid" in embarking on parenthood.

How does the word "selfish" apply in this case?

A denial of fatherhood and motherhood? When Jesus Christ declared that God Himself created some Eunuchs from birth, made some Eunuchs in life and allowed some others to become Eunuchs for His sake - Matthew 19 vs 5 - 15 - was He, God clueless as to this denial of fatherhood and motherhood the pope speaks of ?

Why do people assume that pets are a substitute for kids?

What about those folks who have kids and pets?

What are their pets a substitute for?

Kobojunkie:
How does the word "selfish" apply in this case?

A denial of fatherhood and motherhood? When Jesus Christ declared that God Himself created some Eunuchs from birth, made some Eunuchs in life and allowed some others to become Eunuchs for His sake - Matthew 19 vs 5 - 15 - was He, God clueless as to this denial of fatherhood and motherhood the pope speaks of ?

if you dont understand the context of a statement try and make research.

Ubenedictus:
if you dont understand the context of a statement try and make research.

Um... the context is the Kingdom of God is it not? Or has the pope finally revealed that all he claims is of his kingdom and has absolutely nothing do with any of that which God in fact commands?

And in that Kingdom, Jesus Christ is God's Law, the New Covenant agreement which He calls all who will believe in Him to live by. So what part of what I stated do you not in fact grasp?

Again ....How does the word "selfish" apply in this case?

A denial of fatherhood and motherhood? When Jesus Christ declared that God Himself created some Eunuchs from birth, made some Eunuchs in life and allowed some others to become Eunuchs for His sake - Matthew 19 vs 5 - 15 - was He, God clueless as to this denial of fatherhood and motherhood the pope speaks of ?

Kobojunkie:
Um... the context is the Kingdom of God is it not? Or has the pope finally revealed that all he claims is of his kingdom and has absolutely nothing do with any of that which God in fact commands?

And in that Kingdom, Jesus Christ is God's Law, the New Covenant agreement which He calls all who will believe in Him to live by. So what part of what I stated do you not in fact grasp?

Again ....How does the word "selfish" apply in this case?

A denial of fatherhood and motherhood? When Jesus Christ declared that God Himself created some Eunuchs from birth, made some Eunuchs in life and allowed some others to become Eunuchs for His sake - Matthew 19 vs 5 - 15 - was He, God clueless as to this denial of fatherhood and motherhood the pope speaks of ?

again you seem totally ignorant of the context. you see ignorance, it is a disease.

Ubenedictus:
again you seem totally ignorant of the context. you see ignorance, it is a disease.

I see now.... you have absolutely no real clue about these things except what you are fed by those you submit your head to, pretending you do so for God. OK.