Pontiff delights animal right groups, says dogs go to heaven

In delight of animal right groups, Pope Francis announced in a recent public appearance at the Vatican that dogs along with “all of God’s creatures,” go to heaven.

According to a report, the pontiff, who took his papal name from St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, made the remarks to a young boy upset about the death of his pet dog.

"One day we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all God’s creatures," Francis said during the weekly address at the Vatican in St. Peter’s Square.

This is a sharp contrast to the opinion of Pope Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, who in 2008 said that when an animal dies, “it means the end of the existence on earth”. The Catholic Church has traditionally held that only humans have immortal souls, while those of animals die with their bodies. The issue, however, has been debated over the church’s history.

Animal right groups like Humane Society and PETA, have however applauded Pope Francis’ statement saying that the idea that animals go to heaven could influence Catholics to move away from eating meat. “I’m not a Catholic historian, but PETA’s motto is that animals aren’t ours, and Christians agree. Animals aren’t ours, they’re God’s,” a spokesperson for the group said according to New York Times.