Pope sharply rebuked those who have cats, not children

Pope Francis said that people who prefer pets to children are selfish. He said this during a general audience at the Vatican.

“We are witnessing a manifestation of selfishness. We see that some people do not want to have a child. Sometimes they only have one, but at the same time they have dogs and cats that replace children. It may seem ridiculous, but this is reality, ”the Pontiff said, according to the BBC.

According to Francis, this practice humiliates people,“ deprives us of humanity. ”

Pope Francis said that people who cannot have children for biological reasons should consider adoption.

This is not the first time the Pontiff has criticized people who prefer pets to children. In 2014, he said that pets instead of children are “another cultural degradation,” and that emotional relationships with pets are “easier” than “difficult.” relationship between parents and children.