Dogs receive holy water blessing in Bolivia ceremony

Dogs and their owners filled San Pedro Church in La Paz, Bolivia, on Sunday for a Mass marking the feast of Saint Roch, the patron saint of dogs. The footage shows worshippers holding their pets during the service before receiving Communion and having the animals blessed with holy water. Some faithful also brought photos of pets that had died, including one woman who held a picture of her cat.

Priest Sandro Arana said people could learn loyalty and unconditional care from animals, describing them as gifts from God. Saint Roch is traditionally associated with a dog that brought him food while he was suffering from the plague.