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To Animal Lovers, He's the Cat's Meow

Longtime fondness for felines embraced by fellow Catholic cat fanciers

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 21, 2008 9:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – One group of Catholics who weren't surprised to see Pope Benedict XVI's "softer side" on his visit to the US are devout cat lovers. Benedict harbors a legendary fondness for felines; his house in Germany was filled with them, and in his former Vatican post he looked after cats who visited his building, the New York Times reports. And the affection goes both ways: a German cat wrote a children’s biography of the former Cardinal Ratzinger, with help from a journalist.

The pope’s feline fancy “shows a sensitive side, and I believe it shows that God lives in a person,” said the head of a Catholic animal-advocacy group who was out distributing pamphlets at Yankee Stadium yesterday. “I think all leaders should have compassion for animals.”

Italian author Jeanne Perego presents a drawing of Chico the cat during an interview at her home near Landshut, southern Germany Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Chico and Perego have written a book on the pope.
Italian author Jeanne Perego presents a drawing of Chico the cat during an interview at her home near Landshut, southern Germany Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Chico and Perego have written a book on the pope.   (AP Photo)
Pope Benedict XVI and Vice President Dick Cheney stand for the United States national anthem during a farewell ceremony at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday, April, 20, 2008.
Pope Benedict XVI and Vice President Dick Cheney stand for the United States national anthem during a farewell ceremony at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday, April, 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson)
Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the crowd as he celebrates a Mass at Yankee Stadium, in New York on Sunday, April 20, 2008.
Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the crowd as he celebrates a Mass at Yankee Stadium, in New York on Sunday, April 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Chang W. Lee, Pool)
Chico the cat, author of a book on Pope Benedict XVI, sits in front of the pope's former residence in Pentling near Regensburg, southern Germany on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007.
Chico the cat, author of a book on Pope Benedict XVI, sits in front of the pope's former residence in Pentling near Regensburg, southern Germany on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007.   (AP Photo)
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