The Pope's comment that Catholics do not have to breed "like rabbits" has caused offence among Germany's rabbit breeders.

Pope Francis said Catholics should instead practise "responsible parenting" and use Church-approved forms of birth control.

But Erwin Leowsky, president of the central council of German rabbit breeders, said that only rabbits that live in the wild are sexually overactive.

He said those in captivity have tamer reproductive habits.

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