Wagging tails fill a Philippine church where priests bless pets for St. Francis feast

Priests at Malate Church in Manila blessed pets and plants to honor the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Parishioners brought dogs, cats, and a pet snail to the church to receive holy water as part of the annual celebration for the patron saint of animals and ecology.

Father Leonito Distor, the parish priest, said the Malate parish advocates for these blessings to connect the community with the feast of St. Francis. During the event, the church also provided free vaccinations for dogs and cats in the church park.