Blessing of the Animals

1. Blessing of the Animals

2. Devotees take their pets for blessing during a ceremony commemorating the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, in Valparaiso, Chile October 4, 2025. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

3. A handler walks with a horse during the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

4. A dog named Cooky waits to receive blessings during a religious ceremony held in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, in Panama City, Panama, October 5. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

5. A handler carries a snake during the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

6. An iguana rests on a man's head during a pet blessing ceremony a day after World Animal Day, at a mall in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, October 5. REUTERS/Noel Celis Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

7. People gather with their pets to be blessed on the day of the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

8. A woman holds her cat to be blessed by a priest during a ceremony commemorating the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, at a church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 4. REUTERS/Tita Barros Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

9. A handler walks with a camel during the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

10. A handler holds an owl as they arrive to the cathedral during the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

11. A priest blesses a cockatiel on the day of the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

12. A priest blesses dogs on the day of the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

13. A cat and its handler walk around the cathedral during the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

14. A handler carries a calf during the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

15. Pets receive collective blessings during a religious ceremony held in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, in Panama City, Panama, October 5. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

16. A handler holds a falcon during the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

17. A dog named Alicia receives blessings during a religious ceremony held in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, in Panama City, Panama, October 5. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

18. Dogs gather at the cathedral during the Procession of the Animals at the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals, held at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York, October 5. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

19. A cat named Lola waits in her kennel before receiving a blessing during a religious ceremony held in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, in Panama City, Panama, October 5. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

20. Members of the faithful hold their dogs for a blessing of the pets ceremony by Fr. Enda Cunningham commemorating the Catholic feast day of St. Francis of Assisi at St. Mary's, Star of the Sea church, in Dublin, Ireland, October 5. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

21. Liesl, a blind rescued dog who underwent 2 major surgeries due to severe animal cruelty, including the removal of her eyes, sleeps during the pet blessing ceremony, a day after World Animal Day, at a mall in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, October 5. REUTERS/Noel Celis Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab