Ricky Gervais has responded to comments made by The Pope whereby he suggested that people who choose to have pets instead of children are "selfish".
Pope Francis, 85, made the inflammatory comments last week while speaking about parenthood during a general audience at the Vatican.
"Today we see a form of selfishness," the Pope said. "We see that some people do not want to have a child."
"Sometimes they have one, and that's it, but they have dogs and cats that take the place of children. This may make people laugh but it is a reality," he added.
Speaking at the Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis said couples should have more children to address the "demographic winter" in much of the West and called for couples who can't have children to be open to adoption.
However, British comedian and actor Ricky Gervais was not in agreement with the Pope.
Speaking on the Radio Times podcast, the 60-year-old After Life star said: "I think what he believes in is ridiculous.
"It's a stupid thing to say, isn't it? How can not having children be selfish? How can it be selfish not to bring something into the world that doesn't exist on any level?
"It's not like there's a big line or cage of unborn fetuses going: 'We want to be born'. It doesn't make any sense."
Referencing his own personal decision to not have children with long-term partner Jane Fallon, Gervais added: "No one's going, 'Gervais isn't having kids, we're going to run out soon.'"
This isn't the first time Gervais has hit out at those in power in recent weeks.
Amid the ongoing investigation into parties held by UK Government officials in lockdown, Gervais said that apart from the climbing deaths and the strain on the health service, "the worst thing" about the pandemic "is the f***ing c**** in charge do what they want."
Check out Gervais' rant in the video below (starts at 02:35):He continued:
"I see all these people saying all the parties they were having and people saying that was the day I couldn't see my mom in hospital, or I couldn't go to my dad's funeral because the posh, privileged people in charge were acting like f***ing Charlie Sheen.
"I mean really f***ing rubbing salt in the wound. I don't get political but they're all s***."
The Office star then questioned: "When are we going to stop taking 'went to Eton' as a qualification to run the country? I mean f***ing hell.
"So that's why I'm doing this as well because I've noticed all around there's a lot of annoyance and frustration, totally justified as well."
