Pope says people who have pets instead of kids are “selfish”

Guess he doesn't follow any #DogMoms on Insta, then...

In a move that is currently ruffling some feathers (and fur), Pope Francis has claimed that people who choose to have pets over children are selfish. Speaking to a general audience at the Vatican, the Pope discussed parenthood and how less people are choosing it. "Today... we see a form of selfishness," he said. "We see that some people do not want to have a child. "Sometimes they have one, and that's it, but they have dogs and cats that take the place of children. This may make people laugh, but it is a reality." He described this as "a denial of fatherhood and motherhood" that "diminishes us" and "takes away our humanity". But he didn't stop there, referencing a "demographic winter" in which "people do not want to have children, or just one and no more". 'What about those who don't have kids, but not through any choice of their own,' you ask? Well, never fear: Pope Francis suggested that people who are biologically unable to have children should simply consider adoption. Great, why didn't we think of that? The known childless celibate also urged people "not to be afraid" of parenthood in his address. Which, if you ask us, sounds exactly like someone who doesn't know how scary parenthood can be would say. Sure, the Vatican might offer courses on performing exorcisms and dealing with possession, but have they ever seen a toddler when CoComelon is switched off? That's pretty demonic, too. This isn't the first time Pope Francis has hit out at people choosing to have pets instead of kids, either. In 2014, he claimed people choosing to be parents to pets rather than kids was "another phenomenon of cultural degradation", and said emotional relationships with pets were "easier" than the "complex" parent-child relationship. While the 85-year-old has been pictured petting all sorts of domestic and wild animals, he is not thought to have a pet of his own. Hmm, if he believes people who choose to have pets and not kids are selfish, what does that make people who have neither...?