Did he actually say they have souls or just that our pets would be in heaven with us? There’s a big difference. Animals do not have souls. If they did, they would need the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Not to be ornery or anything, but I’m really glad I’m not Roman Catholic and have to try to defend all the stuff the Pope says.
You have a good point. Those two statements don’t necessarily mean the same thing. He said ‘out pets would be in heaven with us’. As a Catholic, I don’t always worry about ‘defending the Pope, although many other do. I am more interested in trying to ‘properly interpret’ what has been said, such as now. Even then, I won’t spend an inordinate amount of time pondering it. Cest la vie.