DID THE POPE SAY THAT ANIMALS GO TO HEAVEN?
Fr. Jordi Rivero. Dec, 13, 2014

Have you heard that Pope Francis, speaking to a boy who had lost his dog, said "One day we will see our animals again in eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all God’s creatures." Its NOT TRUE. It is an example of the secular media's sensationalism and disregard for the truth.

The New York Times ran the story on Dec 11, then published the following correction the next day:

An earlier version of this article misstated the circumstances of Pope Francis’ remarks. He made them in a general audience at the Vatican, not in consoling a distraught boy whose dog had died. The article also misstated what Francis is known to have said. According to Vatican Radio, Francis said: 'The Holy Scripture teaches us that the fulfillment of this wonderful design also affects everything around us,' which was interpreted to mean he believes animals go to heaven. Francis is not known to have said: 'One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures.' (Those remarks were once made by Pope Paul VI to a distraught child, and were cited in a Corriere della Sera article that concluded Francis believes animals go to heaven.)

The New York Times admitted that they "misstated" the circumstances and ascribed the story to the wrong pope. Actually they invented the whole story (with help from an Italian paper)! In their correction, they claim: it was Pope Paul VI who had spoken about animals going to heaven. We read: "Pope Paul VI was said to have once told a distraught boy whose dog had died..." But Pope Paul VI died 36 years ago. How is it that the story comes up now? Why don't they give their sources? Had he said such a thing we would have known long ago.

What DID Pope Francis say? He said: "The Holy Scripture teaches us that the fulfillment of this wonderful design also affects everything around us" This was INTERPRETED to mean he believes animals go to heaven! It was said in an audience but they don't tell which. Actually it was on November 26, 2014. The pope was speaking about the transformation of all creation as it is brought to fulfillment in Christ and the responsibility of man in re-establishing the order willed by God. Everything comes from God and is directed towards Him. This is based on Romans 8.

The New York Times and all the secular media who copied the story are all to eager to exploit the popularity and authority of Pope Francis to shape public opinion according to their confused understanding of marriage, gender, person and animals. They want to give the impression that the Catholic Church is caving in to their secular mentality.

Contrary to their claims, the mortality of animals is well established in philosophy and theology. It is true that Pope John Paul II said that animals have a soul but they mis-interpret what "soul" means. The soul, in philosophy, is the principle of life. Animals have a MORTAL soul, not rational and immortal souls like humans who are created in the image of God. Creation will not be annihilated but creatures die.
More on this: ewtn.com/pets_in_heaven / Animals are not people

New York Times offered a correction which few will read. In the meantime the lie has spread like feathers in the wind. Pope Francis, on Dec 16, of the "three sins" that communicators must avoid: misinformation, slander and defamation. While the most "insidious" of these would appear to be slander, he observed, the most serious, in terms of communication, is in fact misinformation, for it "leads you to believe only one part of the truth." >>>

It is up to us to be alert and allow the Holy Spirit to form us into the faithful remnant that witnesses to the truth and is light to the world.

What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it
(John 1:3-5)

2415 The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity.^{195 Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.196}

2416 Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.197 Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.

^{2417 God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image.198 Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.}

^{2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.}