AN ANIMAL rescue worker was bold enough to stop the Pope and ask him to pray for all the animals in the world.

Veronica Bruce, of Wotton Animal Rescue, dared to speak up in front of Pope Benedict XVI after she noticed he prayed for everyone except all the creatures in the world in a speech to thousands of people in Rome.

Animal lover Veronica said: "He made a beautiful speech, praying for all the sick children and the poor and the needy and it was wonderful.

"But I kept thinking, he hasn’t mentioned the animals, so when he came round to speak to everyone I shouted ‘Papa, you forgot to pray for the animals’.

"I could see him smile and he was very kind and said a lovely prayer for the animals in the world."

Veronica, who runs the animal rescue centre on the Charfield Road, applied for an invitation to see the Pope for her mother Peggy Long and the pair, who are both Roman Catholics, were delighted to spend three days in Rome.

"It can be very difficult to get invitations to see the Pope," said Veronica, 62. "I did it for my mother really, because she wanted to meet him, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to speak out on behalf of the animals."

As Pope Benedict approached, Veronica reached into her bag to grab one of her Wotton Animal Rescue business cards, which has a photo of a cat on. As she did she found herself surrounded by security guards, worried that she had a weapon in her handbag.

"It was quite funny really," she said. "Once I held up the card and the Pope could see the photo of the cat he just laughed and the guards relaxed. I think some people thought I was crazy, but I just had to do it and I was very pleased the Pope agreed to my request."