More than 1,000 people are taking up PETA's Go Vegan and Feel Great for Lent pledge. The animal welfare charity say that 1,200 people have signed up to the pledge – more than double last year's number. "Every year, PETA hears from compassionate Christians who are eager to take a Lenten pledge to improve their health while embracing the Christian values of compassion and respect for all creation", says PETA's Yvonne Taylor. "After 40 days, many people are so hooked on cruelty-free eating that they go vegan full-time, and celebrate with delicious plant-based Easter treats." In December 2015, Pope Francis was named as PETA's 'person of the year'. The Pope was chosen for asking the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics and other citizens of the world to respect the environment and treat animals with kindness in his encyclical, Laudato Si’.