The leader of the Catholic Church consoles a young boy whose dog had died.
Stefano Rellandini / Reuters
Pope Francis is scoring points with animal activists and pet owners after saying this week that "paradise is open to all God's creatures," including man's best friend.
The pope's remarks, made in his weekly address, were in response to a young boy upset over the death of his dog, according to a report in The New York Times.
"One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God's creatures," Pope Francis said, according to Italian news sources.
Animal rights activists applauded the statement: "PETA Christian is deeply touched and encouraged that Pope Francis has acknowledged that other species are called along with human beings into eternal life with Christ," PETA Director of Christian Outreach and Engagement Sarah Kind said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "We hope that this papal announcement will encourage all followers of Jesus to remember that althought their afterlife will be paradise, animals raised and killed for food endure hell on Earth."
Catholic theology has traditionally taught that animals do not go to heaven because they do not have souls.
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