Pope Francis: "Young people don't want to have children but cats and dogs do"

"Today people don't want to have children, at least one. And many couples don't want to. But they have two dogs, two cats. Yes, dogs and cats take the place of the children ".

Thus Papa Francesco, speaking at the general audience. Bergoglio focused his catechesis on the theme of paternity e maternity.

Resuming the discussion on the fact that families have animals and not children, he underlined: "It's funny, I understand, but it's the reality and this denying motherhood and fatherhood diminishes us, takes away humanity and thus civilization becomes older and without humanity because the richness of fatherhood and motherhood is lost and the homeland that has no children suffers and as someone humorously said 'now who will pay the taxes for my pension that there are no children?'. He laughed but it's the truth, 'who will take charge of me?' ”.

Bergoglio asked San Giuseppe “The grace of awakening consciences and thinking about this: having children, fatherhood and motherhood is the fullness of a person's life. Think about this. It is true, there is paternity and spiritual motherhood for those who consecrate themselves to God but those who live in the world and get married should think of having children, of giving their life because it will be they who will close your eyes and even if you cannot have children think about adoption. It is a risk, having a child is always a risk, both natural and adoption, but more risky is to deny paternity and maternity. A man and a woman who does not develop it are missing something important ”.

Bergoglio, however, recalled that "it is not enough to give birth to a childor to say that they are also fathers or mothers. I am thinking in a particular way of all those who are open to accepting life through the path of adoption. Giuseppe shows us that this type of bond is not secondary, it is not a makeshift. This type of choice is among the highest forms of love and fatherhood and motherhood ”.