Pope Francis and the pets

All dogs go to Heaven?

What was the real story behind the latest Pope Francis media meme? One report ran this photo alongside their story about the 26 Nov 2014 general audience, but the photo was taken in 2013. (Photo: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

C.S. Morrissey wrote for The B.C. Catholic about how the recent press reports on pets and Pope Francis -- which alleged that Pope Francis said to a disconsolate little boy that all pets went to Heaven -- did not make any sense to him:

"Santa Pope battles Grinch Pope Emeritus in new myth"

It turns out he was right to be skeptical. The media reports about what Pope Francis allegedly said about pets turn out to stem from a report about what Pope Paul VI once allegedly said.

Perhaps there's an important lesson here. If the media can't get straight a Pope and pets story, perhaps we should be more cautious and skeptical about their coverage of more complex issues.