Pope Francis’ words of consolation to a young boy who was mourning the death of his dog has re-ignited the debate about whether pets can make it to heaven.
According to the New York Times, Pope Francis said in a recent public appearance in the Vatican's St. Peter's Square that "paradise is open to all of God's creatures."
Francis was speaking to a young boy whose dog had recently died and the Times reported Francis was quoted by the Italian news media as saying: "One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures."
However, a theologian who talked with the Times cautioned Francis’ statement was spoken casually and was not made as part of a doctrinal statement.
According to the Times, the Catholic Church has long supported doctrine that stated dogs and other animals have no soul. Pope Pius IX, who led the Church from 1846 to 1878, once sought to stop the formation of Italian chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Pope Francis continues to surprise critics of the Catholic Church since becoming Pope in 2013. He has made statements considered liberal by church standards regarding homosexuals, unwed couples and even the Big Bang Theory.
