Pope Francis: Opting for pets over children is selfish
Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Francis is pictured at the Vatican on Jan. 1.
(CNN) — Pope Francis has criticized couples who choose to have pets instead of children as selfish, arguing that their decision to forgo parenthood leads to a loss of “humanity” and is a detriment to civilization.
The pope made the comments Wednesday while speaking to a general audience about Saint Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. Francis was lauding Joseph’s decision to bring up Jesus as “among the highest forms of love” when he veered into the topic of adoption and orphaned children today. He then turned his focus to couples who opt for animals instead of children.
“We see that people do not want to have children, or just one and no more. And many, many couples do not have children because they do not want to, or they have just one, but they have two dogs, two cats … Yes, dogs and cats take the place of children,” the pope said. “Yes, it’s funny, I understand, but it is the reality. And this denial of fatherhood or motherhood diminishes us, it takes away our humanity. And in this way civilization becomes aged and without humanity, because it loses the richness of fatherhood and motherhood. And our homeland suffers, as it does not have children.”
The pope’s remarks, though surprising coming from a progressive pontiff, echo the Catholic Church’s teachings about the importance of couples either bearing or raising children — and the potential demographic consequences of not doing so.
Francis said that couples who cannot biologically have children should consider adoption.
“How many children in the world are waiting for someone to take care of them,” Francis said. “Having a child is always a risk, either naturally or by adoption. But it is riskier not to have them. It is riskier to deny fatherhood, or to deny motherhood, be it real or spiritual.”
Francis has had several animal-related dust-ups during his papacy. He made similar remarks about couples prioritizing pets in 2014. Comments he made in 2016 were interpreted as a pronouncement that animals go to heaven, but that analysis was later called into question.
The pope has, however, been photographed with many animals over the years. He’s been seen petting dogs, a koala and a tiger, holding birds and carrying a lamb on his shoulders.
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideNATACHA PISARENKO
Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, celebrates a Mass in honor of Pope John Paul II at the Buenos Aires Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina in this April 4, 2005 file photo. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko, file)
NATACHA PISARENKOArgentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, celebrates a Mass in honor of Pope John Paul II at the Buenos Aires Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina in this April 4, 2005 file photo. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko, file)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideNatacha Pisarenko
Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio gives a mass outside the San Cayetano church in Buenos Aires, Friday Aug.7, 2009. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Natacha PisarenkoArgentina's Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio gives a mass outside the San Cayetano church in Buenos Aires, Friday Aug.7, 2009. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideNatacha Pisarenko
FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2009 file photo, Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, right, greets faithful outside the San Cayetano church in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
Natacha PisarenkoFILE - In this Aug. 7, 2009 file photo, Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, right, greets faithful outside the San Cayetano church in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideGregorio Borgia
Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio who chose the name of Francis is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Gregorio BorgiaPope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio who chose the name of Francis is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideLuca Zennaro
Pope Francis visits with journalists during the papal flight direct to Rio de Janeiro, Monday, July 22, 2013. Francis, the 76-year-old Argentine who became the church's first pontiff from the Americas in March, returns to the embrace of Latin America to preside over the Roman Catholic Church's World Youth Day festival. During his flight from Rome, Francis warned about youth unemployment in some countries in the double digits, telling about 70 journalists aboard the papal plane that there is a "risk of having a generation that hasn't worked." He said, "Young people at this moment are in crisis." (AP Photo/Luca Zennaro, Pool)
Luca ZennaroPope Francis visits with journalists during the papal flight direct to Rio de Janeiro, Monday, July 22, 2013. Francis, the 76-year-old Argentine who became the church's first pontiff from the Americas in March, returns to the embrace of Latin America to preside over the Roman Catholic Church's World Youth Day festival. During his flight from Rome, Francis warned about youth unemployment in some countries in the double digits, telling about 70 journalists aboard the papal plane that there is a "risk of having a generation that hasn't worked." He said, "Young people at this moment are in crisis." (AP Photo/Luca Zennaro, Pool)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideGregorio Borgia
Pope Francis arrives in St. Peter's Square to attend his weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Gregorio BorgiaPope Francis arrives in St. Peter's Square to attend his weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideMichael Sohn
Pope Francis waves as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for his inauguration Mass at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Michael SohnPope Francis waves as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for his inauguration Mass at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideDavid Goldman
Pope Francis conducts Mass outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
David GoldmanPope Francis conducts Mass outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideGabriel Bouys
Pope Francis and President Barack Obama smile as they exchange gifts, at the Vatican Thursday, March 27, 2014. President Barack Obama called himself a "great admirer" of Pope Francis as he sat down at the Vatican Thursday with the pontiff he considers a kindred spirit on issues of economic inequality. Their historic first meeting comes as Obama's administration and the church remain deeply split on issues of abortion and contraception. (AP Photo/Gabriel Bouys, Pool)
Gabriel BouysPope Francis and President Barack Obama smile as they exchange gifts, at the Vatican Thursday, March 27, 2014. President Barack Obama called himself a "great admirer" of Pope Francis as he sat down at the Vatican Thursday with the pontiff he considers a kindred spirit on issues of economic inequality. Their historic first meeting comes as Obama's administration and the church remain deeply split on issues of abortion and contraception. (AP Photo/Gabriel Bouys, Pool)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Medichini
Pope Francis kisses a baby handed to him as he is driven through the crowd during his general audience, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Andrew MedichiniPope Francis kisses a baby handed to him as he is driven through the crowd during his general audience, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Burton
Pope Francis, center, enters Madison Square Garden to celebrate Mass, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 New York. (Andrew Burton/Pool Photo via AP)
Andrew BurtonPope Francis, center, enters Madison Square Garden to celebrate Mass, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 New York. (Andrew Burton/Pool Photo via AP)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideUncredited
Pope Francis hugs Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, right, before pushing open the Holy Door, seen in the background, during a ceremony marking the start of the Holy Year, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
UncreditedPope Francis hugs Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, right, before pushing open the Holy Door, seen in the background, during a ceremony marking the start of the Holy Year, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideLuca Bruno
RETRANSMITTING TO PROVIDE TIGHTER CROP OF XLB116. Pope Francis prays at the gravestones of an Austro-Hungarian cemetery in Fogliano di Redipuglia, northern Italy, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. Pope Francis will confront a piece of his own family history when he visits a World War I memorial Saturday built amid the battlefields where his grandfather fought in the brutal Italian offensive against the Austro-Hungarian empire, surviving to impress upon the future pope the horrors of war. Francis' aim is by recalling those who died in the first World War that broke out 100 years ago is to honor the victims of all wars, and it comes at a time when his calls for peace have grown ever more urgent amid new threats. The pontiff will pray first among the neat rows of gravestones for fallen soldiers from five nations buried a tidy, enclosed Austro-Hungarian cemetery, then travel by car just a couple of hundred meters to Italy's largest war memorial, a grandiose Fascist-era monument to 100,000 fallen Italian soldiers, for an open-air mass. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Luca BrunoRETRANSMITTING TO PROVIDE TIGHTER CROP OF XLB116. Pope Francis prays at the gravestones of an Austro-Hungarian cemetery in Fogliano di Redipuglia, northern Italy, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. Pope Francis will confront a piece of his own family history when he visits a World War I memorial Saturday built amid the battlefields where his grandfather fought in the brutal Italian offensive against the Austro-Hungarian empire, surviving to impress upon the future pope the horrors of war. Francis' aim is by recalling those who died in the first World War that broke out 100 years ago is to honor the victims of all wars, and it comes at a time when his calls for peace have grown ever more urgent amid new threats. The pontiff will pray first among the neat rows of gravestones for fallen soldiers from five nations buried a tidy, enclosed Austro-Hungarian cemetery, then travel by car just a couple of hundred meters to Italy's largest war memorial, a grandiose Fascist-era monument to 100,000 fallen Italian soldiers, for an open-air mass. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAlex Castro
Pope Francis meets Cuba's Fidel Castro, as Castro's wife Dalia Soto del Valle looks on, in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. The Vatican described the 40-minute meeting at Castro's residence as informal and familial, with an exchange of books. (AP Photo/Alex Castro)
Alex CastroPope Francis meets Cuba's Fidel Castro, as Castro's wife Dalia Soto del Valle looks on, in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. The Vatican described the 40-minute meeting at Castro's residence as informal and familial, with an exchange of books. (AP Photo/Alex Castro)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideMary Altaffer
Pope Francis addresses the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Mary AltafferPope Francis addresses the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideGregorio Borgia
Pope Francis meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of a private audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)
Gregorio BorgiaPope Francis meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of a private audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Medichini
Pope Francis arrives to celebrate a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, to mark Epiphany, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. The Epiphany day, is a joyous day for Catholics in which they recall the journey of the Three Kings, or Magi, to pay homage to Baby Jesus. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Andrew MedichiniPope Francis arrives to celebrate a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, to mark Epiphany, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. The Epiphany day, is a joyous day for Catholics in which they recall the journey of the Three Kings, or Magi, to pay homage to Baby Jesus. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Harnik
President Barack Obama and Pope Francis walk down the Colonnade before meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Andrew HarnikPresident Barack Obama and Pope Francis walk down the Colonnade before meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideMax Rossi
Pope Francis is silhouetted as he leaves after his private audience with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the President of Equatorial Guinea, at the Vatican, Friday, Oct. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Max Rossi, Pool)
Max RossiPope Francis is silhouetted as he leaves after his private audience with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the President of Equatorial Guinea, at the Vatican, Friday, Oct. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Max Rossi, Pool)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideCarolyn Kaster
Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so. Listening behind the pope are Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Carolyn KasterPope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so. Listening behind the pope are Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Medichini
Pope Francis prays as he holds an envelope before placing it in on of the cracks between the stones of the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray, in the old city of Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, May 26, 2014. The Vatican hasn't said if the contents of Francis' prayer would be released. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
Andrew MedichiniPope Francis prays as he holds an envelope before placing it in on of the cracks between the stones of the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray, in the old city of Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, May 26, 2014. The Vatican hasn't said if the contents of Francis' prayer would be released. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideChristian Hartmann
Pope Francis arrives to address the European Parliament, Tuesday Nov. 25, 2014 in Strasbourg, eastern France. The pontiff's whirlwind, four-hour visit to the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, Europe's main human rights body, in Strasbourg is shaping up as more of a secular stop than a liturgical layover.(AP Photo/Christian Hartmann, Pool)
Christian HartmannPope Francis arrives to address the European Parliament, Tuesday Nov. 25, 2014 in Strasbourg, eastern France. The pontiff's whirlwind, four-hour visit to the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, Europe's main human rights body, in Strasbourg is shaping up as more of a secular stop than a liturgical layover.(AP Photo/Christian Hartmann, Pool)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideStefano Rellandini
Pope Francis waves to a cheering crowd of faithful as he drives by in a public transportation tram he used to reach the venue of the World Youth Days in Krakow, Poland, Thursday, July 28, 2016. Pope Francis is in Poland for a five-day pastoral visit and to attend the 31st World Youth Days. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool photo via AP)
Stefano RellandiniPope Francis waves to a cheering crowd of faithful as he drives by in a public transportation tram he used to reach the venue of the World Youth Days in Krakow, Poland, Thursday, July 28, 2016. Pope Francis is in Poland for a five-day pastoral visit and to attend the 31st World Youth Days. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool photo via AP)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAlessandra Tarantino
Pope Francis frees a dove after meeting with the Assyro-Chaldean community in the Chaldean catholic church of St. Simon Bar Sabbae in Tbilisi, Georgia, Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. The pontiff is traveling to Georgia and Azerbaijan for a three-day visit. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alessandra TarantinoPope Francis frees a dove after meeting with the Assyro-Chaldean community in the Chaldean catholic church of St. Simon Bar Sabbae in Tbilisi, Georgia, Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. The pontiff is traveling to Georgia and Azerbaijan for a three-day visit. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAlessandra Tarantino
Pope Francis holds the book of the Gospels as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alessandra TarantinoPope Francis holds the book of the Gospels as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAlessandra Tarantino
A boy takes a selfie with Pope Francis, during a visit to the parish of Santa Maria Josefa del Cuore di Gesu', in Rome, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alessandra TarantinoA boy takes a selfie with Pope Francis, during a visit to the parish of Santa Maria Josefa del Cuore di Gesu', in Rome, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideEvan Vucci
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump meet with Pope Francis, Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at the Vatican. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)
Evan VucciU.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump meet with Pope Francis, Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at the Vatican. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Medichini
A gust of wind captures Pope Francis' skull cup after he prayed on the tomb of Bishop Tonino Bello on the 25th anniversary of his death, in Alessano, Southern Italy, Friday, April 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Andrew MedichiniA gust of wind captures Pope Francis' skull cup after he prayed on the tomb of Bishop Tonino Bello on the 25th anniversary of his death, in Alessano, Southern Italy, Friday, April 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Medichini
Pope Francis poses for photos with a group from Mexico wearing traditional clothes, during his weekly general audience, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Andrew MedichiniPope Francis poses for photos with a group from Mexico wearing traditional clothes, during his weekly general audience, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Medichini
Pope Francis twirls a soccer ball he was presented by a member of the Circus of Cuba, during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Andrew MedichiniPope Francis twirls a soccer ball he was presented by a member of the Circus of Cuba, during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAlessandra Tarantino
Flanked by Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela, right, and first lady Lorena Castillo, Pope Francis arrives at the foreign ministry headquarters Palacio Bolivar, in Panama City, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Francis opens his first full day Thursday with a visit to the presidential palace and ends with an evening welcome for young Catholics who have gathered in Panama for World Youth Day. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alessandra TarantinoFlanked by Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela, right, and first lady Lorena Castillo, Pope Francis arrives at the foreign ministry headquarters Palacio Bolivar, in Panama City, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Francis opens his first full day Thursday with a visit to the presidential palace and ends with an evening welcome for young Catholics who have gathered in Panama for World Youth Day. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Medichini
Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass at the Saint Joseph Catholic Cathedral, in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, May 31, 2019. Francis began a three-day pilgrimage to Romania on Friday that in many ways is completing the 1999 trip by St. John Paul II that marked the first-ever papal visit to a majority Orthodox country. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Andrew MedichiniPope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass at the Saint Joseph Catholic Cathedral, in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, May 31, 2019. Francis began a three-day pilgrimage to Romania on Friday that in many ways is completing the 1999 trip by St. John Paul II that marked the first-ever papal visit to a majority Orthodox country. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Medichini
Pope Francis is kissed by a man during his weekly general audience, at the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Andrew MedichiniPope Francis is kissed by a man during his weekly general audience, at the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAlberto Pizzoli
Pope Francis holds a palm branch as he celebrates Palm Sunday Mass behind closed doors in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2020, during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. (AP Photo/pool/Alberto Pizzoli)
Alberto PizzoliPope Francis holds a palm branch as he celebrates Palm Sunday Mass behind closed doors in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2020, during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. (AP Photo/pool/Alberto Pizzoli)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideAndrew Medichini
Pope Francis meets Spider-Man, who presents him with his mask, at the end of his weekly general audience with a limited number of faithful in the San Damaso Courtyard at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. The masked man works with sick children in hospitals. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Andrew MedichiniPope Francis meets Spider-Man, who presents him with his mask, at the end of his weekly general audience with a limited number of faithful in the San Damaso Courtyard at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. The masked man works with sick children in hospitals. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope at 85: No more Mr. Nice Guy, as reform hits strideDivisione Produzione Fotografica
US President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Pope Francis as they meet at the Vatican, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. President Joe Biden is set to meet with Pope Francis on Friday at the Vatican, where the world’s two most notable Roman Catholics plan to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and poverty. The president takes pride in his Catholic faith, using it as moral guidepost to shape many of his social and economic policies. (Vatican Media via AP)
Divisione Produzione FotograficaUS President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Pope Francis as they meet at the Vatican, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. President Joe Biden is set to meet with Pope Francis on Friday at the Vatican, where the world’s two most notable Roman Catholics plan to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and poverty. The president takes pride in his Catholic faith, using it as moral guidepost to shape many of his social and economic policies. (Vatican Media via AP)
