The roman Catholic magazine Civilta Cattolica, the contents of which are approved by the Vatican, has said that the culture of pampered pets is wrong, that they have ‘no souls’ and that the money spent on pet food should go to the poor.

The money saved could fund projects in the third world and help to feed the starving, said the magazine. It also criticised those who spend money on designer items for their pets saying that ‘animals don’t have rights - these belong to man’.

The article, which was featured in the magazine just days before the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, attracted considerable media criticism and comment as well as surprise from within the Catholic church.