Pope Francis celebrated Mass with 15 married couples at the Vatican this week, and the 77-year-old pontiff urged them not to choose pets over having kids. Speaking of those who intentionally forgo childbearing for the “carefree” life, the pope warned against adopting the “culture of well-being” that says life is better without children.
“It might be better—more comfortable—to have a dog, two cats, and the love goes to the two cats and the dog … You can go explore the world, go on holiday, you can have a villa in the countryside, you can be carefree,” the pope said. “Then, in the end this marriage comes to old age in solitude, with the bitterness of loneliness.“
Pope Francis also reminded the couples in his company that marriage requires faithfulness and perseverance. “Married life must be persevering, because otherwise love cannot go forward. Perseverance in love, in good times and in difficult times, when there are problems: problems with the children, economic problems,” the pope said.
Media outlets explained that the pope was in part responding to recent statistics showing birth rates declining in the U.S., Italy and other countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of babies born in the U.S. in 2013 surpassed that of 2012 by approximately 4,700; however, the U.S. has a birth rate of 63 babies per 1,000 women of child-bearing age, a record low. Italy’s birth rate also hit a record low in 2013, and officials are concerned about the trend as the population ages.
