Pope Francis suggested recently that even animals have a place in heaven, while trying to soothe a young boy during a public appearance at the Vatican's St. Peter's Square. 

"Paradise is open to all of God's creatures," he told the boy, whose dog died recently.

"One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ," said the leader of the Catholic Church, according to Italian news sources. 

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A dog dresses up as the pope during the 24th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York. Pope Francis recently suggested that even animals have a place in heaven, during an appearance at the Vatican's St. Peter's Square. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

The Pope made the comments at a weekly general audience at the Vatican.

Pope Francis has consistently made headlines with sometimes controversial remarks after assuming the papacy in 2013.

The 77-year-old has adopted more liberal positions than his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, stirring up tensions with conservative Catholics on issues such as homosexuality and single motherhood.

Francis's papal name comes from St. Francis of Assisi, the church's patron saint of animals and the ecology.