【Netherlands】

If you think monks can't be Netherlandsadorable (or furry), well, you're wrong. We present to you Carmelo, the newest, cutest monk of The Franciscan Monastery of Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Posted by Kasper Mariusz Kaproń Ofm on Sunday, February 26, 2017

Carmelo, a stray schnauzer adopted by the monastery, has quickly become a member of the family and even wears his own habit to look the part.

Facebook user Kasper Mariusz Kaproń Ofm posted photos of the fluffy friar hanging out at his new home with his new friends:

Posted by Kasper Mariusz Kaproń Ofm on Sunday, February 26, 2017

Posted by Kasper Mariusz Kaproń Ofm on Sunday, February 26, 2017

According to fellow friar Jorge Fernandez (pictured above), Carmelo's new life consists of running and playing and he couldn't be happier. All of the brothers in the monastery love him very much.

Carmelo has also been given the formal name Friar Bigotón, which fittingly translates to "Friar Mustache".

Posted by Kasper Mariusz Kaproń Ofm on Sunday, February 26, 2017

Per Catholic tradition, St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, so it's only right that this little pup became the monastery's mascot. He's even spreading the love to other animals at his new home:

Fray Carmelo predicando a los peces

Posted by Kasper Mariusz Kaproń Ofm on Sunday, February 26, 2017

Carmelo's adoption became possible by local animal rescue group Proyecto Narices Frías (Cold Nose Project). The group wrote on Facebook, "If all the churches in our country take just a puppy and I take care as to Friar Bigoton, we are sure that the parishioners would follow her example."

[H/T: The Dodo]