Dogs go to heaven, at least according to Pope Paul IV—not Pope Francis. The statement has made its rounds through major media outlets, including today.com, with the pet-loving sentiment attributed to the current head of the Vatican.
According to Today, “Pope Francis never actually commented on the issue of whether dogs will do to heaven. According to Vatican Radio, the Pope said to a general audience (not a distraught boy as originally reported): ‘The Holy Scripture teaches us that the fulfillment of this wonderful design also affects everything around us.'”
Today attributed the pro-animal statement to a quote from Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. The paper reported it was Paul VI who had comforted a distraught boy with the words: “One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures.”
Dogs or not, we know heaven will be a place of glory.
