PETS AND PRAYERS 🙏🐾 EVENT RECAP: A large gathering of pet owners came together at San Francisco Plaza in Quito, Ecuador for the yearly animal blessing ceremony, honoring St. Francis of Assisi’s role in animal welfare. On October 3, a day ahead of the usual October 4 observance, Franciscan priests offered blessings to a variety of pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, roosters, and even the ashes of cherished deceased pets. This tradition, rooted in the Catholic Church, highlights St. Francis of Assisi as the patron saint of animals and ecology. The World Animal Protection Organisation proclaimed October 4 as World Animal Day in 1929, and similar blessings are celebrated in various Latin American nations. Report courtesy of Reuters. Stay updated at gmanetwork.com/news.