VATICAN CITY (October 1st, 2025) — Christian animal advocacy and protection organizations have written to Pope Leo XIV asking him to initiate work on the theological and doctrinal renewal of the principles governing the relationship between humans and animals, and on new social teaching of the Church in this regard.
This highly important request urges the Pope to take into account current knowledge about animal sentiency, growing animal suffering in industrial agriculture, and the detrimental outcomes to mankind, the animals, and the planet which will continue including climate changes, pollution of the planet, and world hunger if theological and doctrinal renewal does not take place.
The signatories believe that a compassionate teaching on human–animal relationships, rooted in Scripture and Tradition, and updated according to present scientific knowledge is urgently needed to address widespread cruelty, environmental degradation, and climate crisis. That is why they request the Pope to establish a commission of theologians, ethicists, scientists, and other relevant experts to develop a teaching underlying the intrinsic value of all animals as God’s creatures and calling the faithful to eliminate cruelty, exploitation, and indifference to their suffering.
The letter states:
“We earnestly appeal to Your Holiness to open in the Church a new chapter of moral reflection and teaching that will include animals within the circle of compassion and justice. Just as the Church has played an important role in advancing environmental protection, now it has a chance to lead in healing our relationship with animals. “The whole of creation waits with eager longing for the children of God to be revealed” (Romans 8:19).”
“We respectfully request that Your Holiness establish a commission of theologians, ethicists, scientists, and other relevant experts to explore this issue in depth and to develop updated Catholic teaching on human–animal relationships that reflects contemporary scientific knowledge and will help shape people into the image of a loving and compassionate God.”
Read the complete letter and signatory list here. The letter is also available in French, Spanish, German, Italian and Polish.
English: https://chng.it/cgtZNBqNTX
Français: https://chng.it/DKMWpQ9GJ5
Polski: https://chng.it/jkcQ8QSrZk
Deutsch: https://chng.it/F7HgZP7mQ7
Italiano: https://chng.it/j2gXwNPjrB
Español: https://chng.it/mHNzL88r5Z
Signatories:
All Creatures.org (USA) – Tams Nicholson, Executive Director https://www.all-creatures.org/
AnimaTerra -Prendre soin de la Terre et du Vivant – Christine Kristof www.animaterra.fr
Catholic Action for Animals and St. Barnabas Laudato Si’ Group (UK) – Virginia Bell ; Virginia Bell vrbell18@yahoo.co.uk ; https://catholicactionforanimals.wordpress.com/
Catholic Vegetarians (Italy) – Marilena Bogazzi, President cattolici.vegetariani@gmail.com ; www.cattolicivegetariani.it
Christian Animal Rights Association (USA) – Matthew A. King, President info@christiananimalrights.com https://christiananimalrights.com/
Christian Vegetarian Association (USA) – Stephen R. Kaufman, MD, Chair https://www.christianveg.org/
Christians for Animals (Poland) – Barbara Niedźwiedzka, PhD chrzescijaniedlazwierzat@gmail.com www.opowiedzwierze.pl f. https://www.facebook.com/ChrzescijanieZwierzeta
ChristInnen für Tiere (Germany) – Gabriella Perotto, gabriperotto@hotmail.com
Fraternité pour le Respect Animal (France) – Estela Torres estelatorres@fra-respect-animal.org www. https://fra-respect-animal.org/
Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC) – Colm Fahy, Ecology Advocacy Officer https://www.jcfj.ie/
Pan-Orthodox Concern for Animals – President Dr Christina Nellist, panorthodoxconcernforanimals@gmail.com https://panorthodoxconcernforanimals.org/
Vegan Catholic Christian – Daniel Mascarenhas, S.J. vegancatholic.org ; dmascarenhassj@thejesuitpost.org
The list is still open for Christian faith based organisations to sign.
Contact:
Barbara Niedzwiedzka.
Christians for Animals – Poland