More and more young people are more inclined to have a "hairy child" (pet) to accompany themselves than to raise a baby. Yet just yesterday, speaking at the Vatican, Pope Francis, 85, called the Dink couples who only have pets and no children selfish: "We see people who don't want children. Sometimes they have only one child, but they have dogs and cats instead of children. ”
(The Pope gave a Speech on Jan. 5 attacking the Dinks.)
The pope reportedly suggested that couples who are unable to have children should consider adopting children: "How many children in the world are waiting for someone to take care of them." I acknowledge that raising children is risky, both self-born and adopted. But the risk is greater without children. He also said that people who choose not to have children may have problems: "If a man or woman does not develop the feeling of fatherhood or motherhood, they will lack some basic, important qualities." ”
Although Pope Francis did not have dogs or cats in his Vatican home, his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, kept cats as pets. The pope's controversial remarks come at a time when populations in Western countries are plummeting. It is understood that during the epidemic in 2020, the birth rate in the United States fell by 7%. The number of people born in Italy last year fell by 9 percent and Spain by 8 percent.
It is reported that Pope Francis has also called for an end to violence against women: "How much violence against women! Enough is really enough! To hurt a woman is to insult God. Since mothers give life and women sustain the world, let us all make greater efforts to promote motherhood and protect women. ”
Wuhan Morning Post intern reporter Chen Mengting