An important affirmation of John Paul II has raised a great clamour all round the world. T

An important affirmation of John Paul II has raised a great 
clamour all round the world.

THE POPE HAS SAID:  "ANIMALS TOO HAVE SOULS, JUST LIKE MEN"

During a public audience the Holy Father affirmed that the 
animals, like men, were given the 'breath of life' by God.  The 
Vatican squarely confronted this concept for the first time.  At 
the Pope's statement, Monsignor Canciani, who welcome dogs and 
cats into his Church in Rome, said he had "experienced a great 
joy.  Now I sincerely hope that other priests will follow my 
example.."

by Mimmo Pacifici

Rome, January
"When the Pope stated that 'also the animals possess a soul and 
that men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller 
brethren', I felt greatly moved.  At last my work for the world 
of animals had been rewarded.  I have welcomed my parishioners 
into Church for Mass accompanied by their dogs, cats and other 
faithful animal friends for a number of years because I have long 
recognized the justice in maintaining that all God's creatures 
have the right to approach their Creator.  My decision has at 
times caused controversy.  But now that the Holy Father has 
affirmed that the animals are as "near to God as men are", those 
people who have criticized me must surely change their opinion."

The speaker is Monsignor Canciani, 60 years old, Vicar of the 
Roman Church, San Giovanni dei Fiorentini, already well-known the 
world over for having opened his church doors to animals and 
because he also specially blesses them together with his 
parishioners twice a year.  Monsignor Canciani is happy because 
in a homily given at the Vatican during a recent weekly audience 
the Pope made a number of important statements about the creation 
of animals and their relationship with men and with God.  The 
Pontiff in fact stated that all animals are "fruit of the 
creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect."

So what did the Holy Father actually say about animals, and why 
are these words considered to be so important?  Let us read 
together extracts from his homily.

John Paul II quoting from several verses of Genesis spoke of the 
Divine creative action of the Holy Spirit and said:  "...in the 
account of the Creation, the way in which man was created 
suggests a relationship with the spirit or 'breath' of God.  And 
one reads that after having created man from the dust of the 
earth, the Lord God "breathed life into his nostrils and man 
became a living soul".

The Holy Scriptures thereby make clear that God intervened by 
means of His breath of life or Spirit to make man a living soul.  
In man there is the "breath of life" which came from the "breath" 
of God Himself.  In him lives breath which is similar to the very 
breath of God.

Then the Pontiff spoke of the creation of the animals and said:  
"In Genesis, Chapter 2, where there is reference to the creation 
of the animals, there is not given a similar account of their 
relationship with the divine spirit of God as is given of that 
relationship with man.  From the previous chapter we learn that 
"Man was created in the image and likeness of God".

THE DIVINE SPARK OF LIFE
"However, other texts state that animals have the breath of life 
and were given it by God.  In this respect man, created by the 
hand of God, is identical with all other living creatures.  And 
so in Psalm 103* there is no distinction between man and beasts 
when it reads, addressing God:  "...These wait all upon thee; 
that thou mayest give them their meat** in due course.  That thou 
givest them, they gather:  thou openest thy hand, they are filled 
with good."

The psalmist continues:  "Thou hidest thy face, they are 
troubled:  thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to 
their dust.  Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created:  
and thou renewest the face of the earth."  The existence 
therefore of all living creatures depends on the living 
spirit/breath of God that not only creates but also sustains and 
renews the face of the earth."

This affirmation of the Pontiff has aroused enormous interest the 
world over and has overjoyed many thousands of Catholics who for 
many years have been deeply concerned that the Church should 
reiterate and give back to animals the proper respect and moral 
dignity due to the animal world which is often discriminated 
against and long been considered inferior to that of men.

"This discourse by Pope Wojtyla is very important and 
significant" explains the distinguished theologian Carlo Molari 
who for many years has been Professor of Theology and Dogma at 
the University of Urbino.  "It is a 'sign of the times' because 
it demonstrates the Church's desire and deep concern to clarify 
present confused thinking and attitudes towards the animal 
kingdom.  There should be no need, but the Pontiff in reiterating 
that the animals came into being because of the direct action of 
the "breath" of God wanted to say that also these creatures as 
well as man are possessed of the divine spark of life and that 
living quality that is the soul.  And are therefore _not_ 
inferior beings or only of a purely material reality."

TRANSCENDENT BEINGS
"If one goes on to contemplate that the word "animal" is derived 
from that of 'anima' or soul, one understands, as the Pope 
explains, that animals are indeed "touched" by the first 
principle of life which is the Holy Spirit.  But the intention of 
the Pope when he defines the animals as being composed of both 
body and soul is not only meant to convey their value in a 
metaphysical sense, but above all also in a moral sense 
specifically that we must respect all the creatures of God.  
Clearly therefore because the animal possesses the same "breath" 
of life as man, men must demonstrate proper and total solidarity 
with the creatures that surround him.  He must keep in his mind 
that there is an animal life around him and at the same time must 
try to love and respect it.  And perhaps the profound and true 
message of the Pontiff is that we must live in close harmony, and 
with love towards animals and all of nature surrounding us."

"However", concludes theologian Carlo Molari, "it must be re-
stated that there remains a distinction between the soul of an 
animal and that of man.  According to Scripture the animal is 
destined to perish.  It is mortal by definition, unlike man who 
continues his existence beyond earthly life.  So far as we 
understand now there is no possibility that we will find other 
creatures in the Hereafter.  However, it's one thing to expound 
according to the theology and philosophy we have studied and 
quite another for us to comprehend Divine reality--both future 
and distant--which remains mysterious and difficult to grasp 
within our limited capabilities."

Having now listened to the views of a theologian interpreting in 
his opinion John Paul II's declaration upon the great spiritual 
"communion" between men and animals, let us turn again to 
Monsignor Canciani's words, the priest who in his genuine concern 
for animals, had anticipated the Church's new solidarity with our 
'faithful friends'. 

"Yes, the Pope's words made me very happy" says Monsignor 
Canciani, who as well as actively assisting the needy in his 
parish, and helping animals, is also a writer and member of the 
(Vatican) Council.  "The words strengthen even more my love for 
animals which for years I have welcomed into my church together 
with the faithful.  Just think, after the Pope proclaimed 
publicly his own love of animals, I received hundreds of phone 
calls from all over Italy.  It was a wonderful experience:  I 
would pick up the receiver and at the other end of the line 
people would all be complimenting me:  "Did you hear, Monsignor?  
You were right all along!  The Pope has said we must all love 
animals.  That they too have souls and belong to God just like 
men.  We do hope now that in our own parish too we will be able 
to take our animals to Church.  It would be wonderful to be able 
to pray with them beside us."  In fact I was on the phone all day 
and at last I was able to answer that single question that 
everyone kept asking.  The Pope had made it easy for me when he 
had affirmed that man must live in solidarity with animals, 
because to live in community with them is the first principle of 
existence.  And now that the Catholic Church officially is 
showing herself more attentive to the needs of animals, lots of 
small memories come crowding in on me, that day after day had 
impressed themselves upon me and increased my respect for the 
animals which often save the lives of human beings."

"I remember for example, the story of an old lady, who living 
alone in the solitude of her home, to keep loneliness and sadness 
at bay, had depended strongly on the love and friendship of a 
little white dog, old like herself and rather worn.  One day the 
old lady, no longer able to care for herself had been forced to 
enter a Hospice.  With her suitcase and the little dog in her 
arms she presented herself at the door of the Hospice.  But of 
course dogs were not allowed in the Hospice and the old lady 
became terribly upset.  She cried and despaired and would not be 
parted from her faithful friend who had shared so many years of 
her life.  Finally knowing my love for animals she decided to 
phone me to ask for help.  I rushed immediately over to the 
Hospice and tried hard to calm her telling her that I would look 
after her dog and we would both visit her together frequently.  
However, day after day the situation got worse.  Both the dog and 
the old lady, not able to accept the situation seemed to want 
only to die.  The little dog pined in my study, refusing food and 
whining.  The old lady sat alone in dignified silence while her 
health visibly deteriorated.  So I finally decided to talk to the 
Director of the Hospice.  "Does it seem right to you that two 
creatures who love each other and are reaching the last few years 
of their lives should be made to cruelly suffer in this way?  Why 
not, in the name of love can't we ignore the regulations".  After 
much heart-searching the Director allowed the little dog to be 
returned to its owner.  I can never forget the expression of pure 
joy on the woman's face when she saw her little dog again and 
knew she could keep him once more.  It is written in the Bible 
that "God exists not only in man but in everything that lives."  
And I, seeing the happiness of those two reunited, understood 
that animals also do have souls, an interior tension with which 
they interact with God and with men."

"When did you decide to open the door of your Church to animals?"

"It was a spontaneous decision that sprang from mature reading of 
the Scriptures which teach that Jesus dying redeemed not only man 
but the whole of creation:  and therefore animals too.  I still 
remember clearly the very first time that, assailed with many 
doubts, I decided to let a dog enter the Church for a religious 
ceremony.  Two of my older parishioners asked me to celebrate a 
Mass for their 25th wedding anniversary and rather tentatively 
the asked whether not only all their family and friends but their 
dog also, could participate in the celebration as a kind of very 
affectionate member of the family.  'Without our dog, it would 
seem as though our family were not complete and that in fact we 
would not all really be united for such an important 
celebration.'

"I thought about this strange proposition for some time before I 
agreed to their request.  And it was a most beautiful and solemn 
ceremony.  It was most moving to see, close to the children, 
cousins, nephews and nieces of the couple, that quiet gentle 
animal, waiting patiently with the family.  I understood that 
their dog represented symbolically to the congregation the 
qualities of friendship and faithfulness of those two people 
which, among other things, had kept the couple lovingly 
together."

AN INFALLIBLE METHOD 
"From that experience I opened my Church to animals, and people 
can enter whenever they wish with their faithful friends, not 
only during a private arrangement but whenever they come to 
confess or take part in the Holy Mass.  And I now bless animals 
and their owners twice a year during a special Mass because all 
creatures have the right to feel loved by God and be near Him."

"I have also learned to make use of the sensitivity and love 
animals have for people to solve the most disparate and desperate 
cases.  I have helped back to happy everyday life many cases of 
drug dependency when the addicts could find no way out of the 
tunnel, as well as both old and young people who have been 
through periods of deep depression and feelings of worthlessness 
unable to find any sense in their lives.  I have been able to do 
this with an infallible method which I now always use:  I present 
myself at their door with a kitten or puppy in my arm together 
with a small bag of food for the creature.  I knock and ask:  
"Can you do me an enormous favour?  I have to leave and won't be 
back for a week.  There's no-one who can look after this little 
animal.  Can you possibly help?"  The response is usually one of 
indifference, even distaste and the door is sometimes almost 
closed in my face.  But seeing how insistent I am they agree to 
do me this small favour.  Upon my return the situation is usually 
completely different.  A different person stands before me.  No 
longer apathetic and desperate, because the little animal in its 
innocence and trusting dependence drew out hidden depths of 
buried affection.  This indicates that man will truly find 
genuine happiness if he will learn to trust again in the love and 
companionship of animals."

Translated by Piera Smith from Genre Magazine and 
Man/Nature/Animals, January 1990.

(*Note:  Douai Version; Ps 104 in the Authorised Version)
(**'meat' in the Bible means 'food' not the flesh of animals or 
man which when referred to is called 'flesh')

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