"Pope Francis urges Italians to prioritize children over pets amidst declining birth rate"

Pope Francis has once again criticized young pet owners, calling them "selfish" and arguing that government leaders and others must work to reverse birthrate trends. Italy recorded a record low number of live births last year, and unless the birthrate rises in the near future, the country could be headed toward economic collapse. The pope has previously said that choosing not to be a parent risks a person's humanity and that the drop in interest in child-rearing is fueled by "cultural degradation."