Posted on 12/11/2014 7:59:05 AM PST by Slings and Arrows
In his weekly address at the Vatican late last month, Pope Francis issued a remarkable statement that’s sure to come as welcome news to anyone who’s ever lost a beloved pet. According to Francis, the promise of an afterlife applies not only to believers, but to all animals as well.
"The Holy Scriptures teach us that the realization of this wonderful plan covers all that is around us, and that came out of the thought and the heart of God," Pope Francis said, as quoted by Italian news site Resapubblica.
The Pope then went on to say that “heaven is open to all creatures, and there [they] will be vested with the joy and love of God, without limits.”
Pope Francis’s stance on animals stands in contrast to that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who despite reportedly being a cat lover, said that animals’ existence was limited to their time on Earth. But Francis isn’t the first pontiff to take an animal-friendly approach to ideology. As newspaper Divisione la Repubblica notes, Pope John Paul II held a similar position, saying animals had a “divine breath.”
This isn’t the first time that Francis, who adopted his papal name in honor of the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi, has spoken out on behalf of nonhumans. In his first homily as pope, Francis articulated mankind’s role in serving not only the divine, but in all creatures born from it:
“The vocation of being a ‘protector,’ however, is not just something involving us Christians alone; it also has a prior dimension which is simply human, involving everyone. It means protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world, as the Book of Genesis tells us and as St. Francis of Assisi showed us. It means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live."
I don’t know if they do or they don’t but I always sprinkle Holy water on them and make the sign of the cross on them just in case. :)
Scripture reference? As much as I’d like to think so I haven’t read anything that suggests this is true.
Does that include mosquitoes and ticks?
That’s also a good way to make that none of them are vampires.
Certainly - it's just that their heaven is our hell.
Scripture, schmipture...
He’s the Pope! He’s infallible!
:) That is a good thing as well. Should they decide to bite you in your sleep.
I have known cats that I am pretty sure ended up in hell.
People who have had these near-death experiences and claim to have spent time in Heaven all report seeing animals there.
Nope...she is still alive and running for POTUS in 2016 unless her pear shaped ass explodes, or she falls and dies in a drunken stupor.
Would Christian heaven be Heaven without our pet dogs?
muslims, not so much...
This includes insects?
DFTT - the poster was more interested in getting a cheap shot in than any reasoned explanation.
Something about having a soul breathed into humans separate us from animals. I read that in the Bible, pretty sure. Now if he was just being a nice old grandpa, I could let it slide.
“Scripture reference? As much as I’d like to think so I haven’t read anything that suggests this is true.”
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. - Romans 8 NKJV
My cats like my blood where it is - keeping their meal ticket going. ;^)
Yes: praying mantises.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.