The pontiff made the remarks earlier this week, lamenting the humanisation of pets.
The Pope's suggestion that people who substitute pets for children exhibit "a certain selfishness" does the Church no favours.
That's according to the parish priest of Abbeyleix, Father Paddy Byrne.
The pontiff made the remarks earlier this week, lamenting the humanisation of pets when there is so much poverty in the world.
However, the comments have been met with widespread criticism, and Father Paddy feels they were "unpalatable":
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