Peace be with you, dear reader, and may the gentle breezes of faith carry you through your day, wherever you may be reading this — perhaps in a lovely cafe, or a bustling piazza, or even a very quiet library. I, your humble Pope, have been tasked with a fascinating report today, one that concerns the wondrous creatures of the wild: wolves! Specifically, the wolves of Oregon, which I believe is a region somewhere past the great forests of... well, I always get my Americas mixed up. Is it near the Grand Canyon? My apologies.
It seems these splendid animals, guided by the Lord's mysterious ways, are not only growing in number, but they are also expanding their territories, moving ever westward. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife – ODFW, they call it, a very official-sounding group indeed, may God bless their diligent work – reports a healthy increase in their packs. My goodness, what a marvel! So many new little wolf pups, bounding through the pines and valleys, following their parents like good little altar servers, I imagine.
This reminds me, perhaps, of the time Saint Francis spoke to the wolf of Gubbio, though I confess I always found that story a little... direct. Or perhaps it's more like the words from the psalms, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” but in this case, the wolves are doing their own shepherding, in a manner of speaking, of their own families. A natural order, you see. “Per viam,” as we say in Latin, “they are on their way,” westward bound. I trust they pack a good lunch for their travels, perhaps some nice crusty bread, though I suspect their culinary preferences run a little... wilder.
This talk of wandering creatures and vast territories takes me back to a time when I, too, embarked on an unplanned journey. It was during a particularly foggy morning in the Vatican gardens, you see. I had set out for a simple stroll to admire the olive trees, and somehow, I found myself quite lost near the grotto of Lourdes! I remember bumping into a very large, shaggy dog – a friendly fellow, not a wolf, mind you – who seemed to know the gardens better than I did. He guided me back to the main path, wagging his tail. I often wondered if he was sent by an angel, or perhaps just a very clever gardener. May the Lord bless him, wherever he is.
So, these wolves of Oregon, my dear children, are simply following their God-given instincts, venturing into new lands. It is a testament to the enduring beauty of creation, is it not? May the good Lord watch over these growing wolf families as they continue their journey, and may He also extend His benevolent gaze upon the good people of Oregon – the farmers, the hikers, and especially the sheep, may they all find peace and understanding in this wild balance. And may the scientists at the ODFW always find their grant applications approved, for their work is truly a blessing. Pax vobiscum, everyone!
