Gil Florini, priest of St.-Pierre-d'Arene Church, blesses a horse during a Mass dedicated to animals to honor the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Sunday, October 7, in Nice, France. Catholic churches around the world hold annual blessings of pets on the feast day of Francis, the patron saint of animals. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/world/photography/index.html" target="_blank">Check out more of CNN's best photography.</a>
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
Gil Florini, priest of St.-Pierre-d'Arene Church, blesses a horse during a Mass dedicated to animals to honor the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Sunday, October 7, in Nice, France. Catholic churches around the world hold annual blessings of pets on the feast day of Francis, the patron saint of animals. Check out more of CNN's best photography.
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Two dogs and their owners wait for their blessings at the St.-Pierre-d'Arene church on Sunday.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
Two dogs and their owners wait for their blessings at the St.-Pierre-d'Arene church on Sunday.
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A woman attends with her dog and rabbit on Sunday..
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
A woman attends with her dog and rabbit on Sunday..
AFP/Getty Images
People and animals line up for the blessing on Sunday.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
People and animals line up for the blessing on Sunday.
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A woman shows off her dog at the service on Sunday.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
A woman shows off her dog at the service on Sunday.
AFP/Getty Images
Priest Gil Florini blesses a dog during Sunday's Mass.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
Priest Gil Florini blesses a dog during Sunday's Mass.
AFP/Getty Images
A dog pants as it waits for time with the priest on Sunday.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
A dog pants as it waits for time with the priest on Sunday.
AFP/Getty Images
People and their pets sit in the church on Sunday.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
People and their pets sit in the church on Sunday.
AFP/Getty Images
A man and his dog wait for the blessing at Sao Francisco de Assis Church in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday, October 4.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
A man and his dog wait for the blessing at Sao Francisco de Assis Church in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday, October 4.
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A dog peeks from between the legs of its owner at Sao Francisco de Assis Church on Thursday.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
A dog peeks from between the legs of its owner at Sao Francisco de Assis Church on Thursday.
Reuters/Landov
A dog stands next to its owner during Thursday's Mass in Sao Paulo.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
A dog stands next to its owner during Thursday's Mass in Sao Paulo.
Reuters/Landov
A man holds his dog to be blessed in Sao Paulo on Thursday.
Blessing of Pets ceremony —
A man holds his dog to be blessed in Sao Paulo on Thursday.
Reuters/Landov