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Voice For Us: Open letter to Pope Leo XIV – Will the welfare of animals be included in your pontificate?

Updated: Jun 2

I decided to write an open letter to the new Pope, Pope Leo XIV, to stress that both humans and animals suffer and the lives of innocent animals lost due to wars and natural disasters, and the end of cruelty in humans is worth praying for during papal appeals and audiences.

Voice For Us is asking Pope Leo XIV that his pontificate will support messages that unite all living beings without stressing the needs of some over others. In a civilized world, there should not be prioritization of the needs of humans over animals.


Letter in English:


Your Holiness,

 

My name is Fabiola and I am the creator of Voice For Us, a website that publishes animal cruelty articles to expose animal abusers.

 

I am reaching out to you to express and share my hope that your pontificate, contrary to your predecessor’s, will be based on and profess inclusive love rather than selective love.

 

Specifically, what I am asking of you is that you include animals in your prayers, speeches, and that they will be considered as part of your dealings with social issues.

 

During your predecessor’s pontificate, the loss of animal lives was not mentioned when remembering the casualties of natural disasters, domestic explosions, wars and other tragedies. Shedding light on animal cruelty cases was not a priority and there was a notable and consistent exclusion of the concept of animal rights in discussions.

 

Never has a prayer been uttered with animal welfare in mind to inspire the faithful to pray for the countless innocent animals who have lost, and every day lose, their precious lives.

 

I noticed that your predecessor repeatedly sent out peace appeals mentioning children as victims. His stance against violence and hate was made abundantly clear. And yet, frequent and extreme episodes of animal cruelty were never addressed.

 

Innocent animals have been drowned or set on fire whilst still alive, they have been beaten to death. Are these horrific examples of violence and hatred against God’s creatures not worthy of our collective reflection?

 

Moreover, veterinarians and those who work in animal shelters volunteer their time to rescue and care for animals every day. They are heroes and their sacrifices are not less deserving of praise and recognition than those of police officers, fire fighters, doctors, etc.

 

I know that Pope Francis regularly attended prisons and donated € 200,000 from his personal account to the pasta factory at the Casal del Marmo juvenile prison. When I contemplate this generosity, I can’t help feeling upset at this blatant favoritism. I feel compelled to outline that there are numerous animals in kennels and rescue centers in need of a loving forever home. The people who operate them are in desperate need of donations and supplies to continue their honorable work.

 

There is no doubt that the cruel abandonment of innocent animals is one of the world’s biggest plagues; what level of interest and engagement can we expect from your pontificate to fight it?

 

It would be of tremendous impact on our society if our churches opened their doors to welcome abandoned animals who sadly are exposed to hunger, danger, abuse, and disease. They too need and deserve love as much as humans who are homeless and vulnerable. Would that not be a demonstration of a “welcoming church”?

 

Right after being elected Pope, your first words were: “Peace be with you all". I hope peace is a concept that you can make applicable to ALL living beings. Animals also deserve to live without the constant fear of being condemned by the cruelty of man.

 

In conclusion, I ask you that your pontificate will support messages that unite all living beings without stressing the needs of some over others. Both animals and humans are suffering everywhere. End the hypocrisy now.

 

Respectfully,

Fabiola






***


Letter in Italian:


Santità,

 

Mi chiamo Fabiola e sono la creatrice di Voice For Us, un sito web che pubblica articoli sulla crudeltà verso gli animali per denunciare chi li maltratta.

 

Mi rivolgo a lei per esprimere e condividere la mia speranza che il suo pontificato, a differenza di quello del suo predecessore, si basi e professi un amore inclusivo piuttosto che selettivo.

 

In particolare, ciò che le chiedo è di includere gli animali nelle sue preghiere, nei suoi discorsi e che siano considerati parte integrante del suo modo di affrontare le questioni sociali.

 

Durante il pontificato del suo predecessore, la perdita di vite di animali non veniva menzionata nel ricordare le vittime di disastri naturali, esplosioni domestiche, guerre e altre tragedie. Far luce sui casi di crudeltà verso gli animali non era una priorità e c'è stata una notevole e costante esclusione del concetto di diritti degli animali dalle discussioni.

 

Non è mai stata pronunciata una preghiera incentrata sul benessere degli animali per ispirare i fedeli a pregare per gli innumerevoli animali innocenti che hanno perso, e ogni giorno perdono, la loro preziosa vita.

 

Ho notato che il suo predecessore ha ripetutamente lanciato appelli di pace menzionando i bambini come vittime. La sua posizione contro la violenza e l'odio è stata ampiamente chiara. Eppure, episodi frequenti ed estremi di crudeltà sugli animali non sono mai stati affrontati.

 

Animali innocenti sono stati annegati o dati alle fiamme mentre erano ancora vivi, sono stati picchiati a morte. Questi orribili esempi di violenza e odio contro le creature di Dio non meritano forse la nostra riflessione collettiva?

 

Inoltre, i veterinari e coloro che lavorano nei rifugi per animali offrono volontariamente il loro tempo per salvare e prendersi cura degli animali ogni giorno. Sono eroi e i loro sacrifici non sono meno meritevoli di lode e riconoscimento di quelli di poliziotti, vigili del fuoco, medici, ecc.

 

So che Papa Francesco ha visitato regolarmente le carceri e ha donato 200.000 euro dal suo conto personale al pastificio del carcere minorile di Casal del Marmo. Quando penso a questa generosità, non posso fare a meno di sentirmi turbata da questo palese favoritismo. Mi sento in dovere di sottolineare che ci sono numerosi animali nei rifugi e nei centri di soccorso che hanno bisogno di una casa amorevole. Le persone che gestiscono questi centri hanno un disperato bisogno di donazioni per continuare il loro onorevole lavoro.

 

Non c'è dubbio che il crudele abbandono di animali innocenti sia una delle piaghe più grandi del mondo; quale livello di interesse e impegno possiamo aspettarci dal suo pontificato per combatterla?

 

Avrebbe un impatto enorme sulla nostra società se le nostre chiese aprissero le porte per accogliere gli animali abbandonati che purtroppo sono esposti a fame, pericoli, abusi e malattie. Anche loro hanno bisogno e meritano amore tanto quanto gli esseri umani senza casa e che sono vulnerabili. Non sarebbe questa una dimostrazione di "chiesa accogliente"?

 

Subito dopo essere stato eletto Papa, le sue prime parole sono state: "La pace sia con tutti voi". Spero che la pace sia un concetto che lei possa applicare a TUTTI gli esseri viventi. Anche gli animali meritano di vivere senza la costante paura di essere condannati dalla crudeltà dell'uomo.

 

In conclusione, le chiedo che il suo pontificato sostenga messaggi che uniscano tutti gli esseri viventi, senza porre l'accento sui bisogni di alcuni a discapito di altri. Sia gli animali che gli esseri umani soffrono ovunque. Metta fine ora all’ipocrisia.

 

Cordiali saluti,

Fabiola








Fate of Mama bear’s life on hold – Italian authorities demand she be killed

- Italy -


I have been trying to write this article for days, but every time I found rage taking the upper hand and I was forced to put it on hold.


Time is running out and a decision needs to be made about the precious life of a 17-year-old bear, Gaia, also known as JJ4 (as if she was a manufacturing part!)


JJ4 is officially named after her parents, Joze and Jurka, who were brought to Italy from Slovenia as part of the European Union-funded Life Ursus project to reintroduce bears into Trentino between 1996 and 2004.


The Life Ursus project began in 1999 with the introduction of three male and six female bears in the Trento forests, aiming to rebuild the population to 40-60 bears over a few decades. But the population has rebounded to more than 100 identified bears who are having more and more encounters with the human population.


On the early morning of Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 26-year-old Andrea Papi went jogging through the Caldes woods surrounding the town of Val di Sole in the northern Italian region of Trentino Alto Adige. When he did not return home, his family raised the alarm and his body was found overnight. Two days later, an autopsy concluded cause of death by bear attack. Through DNA matching of fecal matter and other bodily fluids left near Papi’s body, Gaia was later identified as the one who had the encounter in her habitat with Papi.


Experts say Gaia’s behavior may have been linked to a perceived threat against her three 2-year-old cubs in the weaning phase.


Gaia wears a GPS radio collar that tracks her movements, however, according to Italian news agencies the batteries of the collar were dead at the time of the encounter.


Local authorities asked for Gaia to be euthanized, and in fact, on April 12, 2023, Mr. Maurizio Fugatti, president of the Autonomous Province of Trentino, signed the order to cull her.


Understandably and rightfully, several Italian wildlife protection agencies and animal rights organizations opposed that order. Following the countless appeals, an administrative court suspended Mr. Fugatti’s order to kill Gaia. Mr. Fugatti now has until May 11, 2023, to find out what Administrative Court of Trento will decide.


CNN reports: “A statement on the Anti-Vivisezione website (anti-medical testing of animals) said that they petitioned the court to protect JJ4 because the order to cull was ‘an action that appeared more like a gesture of revenge against the bear than an effective search for everyone’s safety in a peaceful and informed coexistence’.”


Meanwhile, the poor Gaia has been captured and separated from her cubs during the night of Tuesday, April 18, 2023! Forest rangers with dogs tracked her paw-prints in the snow. She was lured with apples and corn in a tube trap. Gaia was with her babies. Two of her babies were also initially trapped before being released. Gaia was then taken to a wildlife center in Casteller (where other bears are also imprisoned).


Following her capture, during a press conference, Mr. Fugatti said the presence of law enforcement in front of Casteller Wildlife Center has been strengthened due to the protests by animal rights activists. He also said: “We would have killed her on the spot.” And added: “As far as we are concerned, if the court allows it ... we will proceed with the killing.”

Mr. Fugatti denounced the defensive arguments made by animal rights groups as “ideological”.


It is also worth mentioning that Mr. Fugatti had already ordered Gaia’s murder in 2020 following the wounding of two excursionists. At the time, the Administrative Court of Trento did oppose the order, however, they are now saying that Papi’s death could have been prevented had they decided differently.


Papi’s mother said she is not in favor of killing Gaia because this will not bring back her son. She did add that she does expect the authorities to do the right thing by providing her son dignity and justice, however, she did not specify how.


To this regard, Ms. Michela Brambilla, Italian politician and animal rights activist, has explained that there are also bears in the Abruzzo region and has stressed how similar incidents do not happen there thanks to the efficient security measures implemented. Ms. Brambilla denounced the lack of precautions taken by local officials in Trentino Alto Adige. She said they failed to promote safety measures aimed at warning residents which areas are safe and which should not be approached due to the presence of bears. Ms. Brambilla rightfully said that killing one bear or transferring them will not solve the problem and that this feels like an eye-for-an-eye situation.


For my part, I feel that people must be educated and must accept that the territory does not belong to mankind and that both animals and humans must and can co-exist. It is heartbreaking to know that, whilst this discussion ensues and the decision to end Gaia’s life is pending, she has woken up in an unfamiliar environment without her babies and them without her.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



Additional Sources:




In dogs we trust – Can they say the same about us?

How many times have we heard the expression: “A dog is man’s best friend?”


I recently learned that King Frederick of Prussia used that sentence for the first time in 1789 when referring to his Italian Greyhound.

He said: “The only, absolute and best friend that a man has, in this selfish world, the only one that will not betray or deny him, is his DOG.”


But there was another significant time when King Frederick’s phrase was used.


Reportedly, a lawyer named George Graham Vest included King Frederick’s citation in his closing arguments during a trial in Missouri when he was defending Charles Burden.

Mr. Burden’s dog, a Greyhound named Old Drum, had been murdered in cold blood by Burden’s brother-in-law, a sheep-farmer named LEONIDAS HORNSBY.

The lawyer gave a very emotional speech that became known as: “Eulogy to a Dog”.

Mr. Vest won the case.

In Warrensburg, Missouri, in front of the Johnson County Courthouse, there is a statue of Old Drum.


If you ask dog parents why they love their dogs so much, it’s highly likely they will answer that dogs are so loyal, and are always there for us, no matter what. Their loyalty knows no bounds!

Their love for their human parents is unconditional.

Not to mention the great feeling we experience when coming home after a hard and long day at work and waggy tails run to the door to greet us.

They are always happy to see us!

And what about situations where dogs have been removed from abusive situations and their rescuers say that despite the ordeal the dogs have been through, they do not show diffidence and are not wary of the humans around them.

A lot of humans could learn a few things from dogs!


While humans have so much going on in their world: school, work, socializing, use of social media, vacations, hobbies, and much more, to our furbabies we represent their whole world!


If we choose to bring furbabies into our lives, we must never forget that we make a commitment to them, to their wellbeing, and happiness.


Having dogs is more than putting down some food and water and providing them with adequate shelter.

Our responsibilities toward them go beyond that!

We are required to take them to the vet regularly, we are required to take them for walks, to the parks, to dogs’ play centers, and on vacation with us, we are supposed to play with them, pet them, and make them feel our love!


Dogs do not belong in the streets, they do not belong in shelters, and they do not belong in dogfighting rings!


Dogs are not meant to be abused, tortured, or killed!

Dogs are not meant to be bred for profit!

Dogs are not meant to be consumed as food!

Dogs are not meant to be used for commercial entertainment!

Dogs are not meant to be festive gifts only to be abandoned after the occasion is gone!

Dogs are not meant to be experimented on or used in laboratories!


Dogs, like all animals, can feel emotions and experience emotional contagion.

Dogs, like all animals, are so precious that not everyone deserves them!


If you are not fully prepared to embark on this lifetime commitment, then do not get a dog!

And remember, if you realize that you no longer can or want to keep your dog, abandoning him/her on the side of the road, is NEVER an option. Reach out for help!






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