蜜桃交友

By Christopher Wells

鈥淚 think that the Holy Spirit is really present and working overtime here in the Synod Hall these days鈥�, says Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect for the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

Speaking with Pope on the sidelines of the Synod for the Amazon, Cardinal Farrell said he thinks 鈥渢here鈥檚 a great spirit of fraternity and understanding among all of the bishops鈥�. Everyone, he said, recognizes that there are 鈥渕any, many problems鈥� facing the Church in Amazonia; but 鈥渨e are striving鈥�, he said, 鈥渢o find ways of continuing the great missionary work that began so many years ago鈥�.

With so many proposals coming from the Synod Floor, and 鈥渋n time, the Church will have to examine each and every one of them鈥�. Cardinal Farrell said that with so many different ideas, 鈥渙bviously there has to be much broader consultations with respect to some of the things鈥� being suggested. 鈥淚 feel that sometimes we look for the easy way out, and the Holy Spirit [on the other hand]will drag us back onto the right road many times鈥�.

When asked about how the Synod Fathers can find reach agreement on the many questions and proposals set before them, Cardinal Farrell once again looked to God: 鈥淚 think the Holy Spirit will give us general guidance on how to go forward鈥�.

The Prefect for the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life said he was particularly struck by the 鈥済reat faith鈥� of many of the pastors working in the Amazon region. 鈥淐oming from the United States鈥�, he said, 鈥淚 had no idea about the difficulties that these Bishops, and priests and sisters, and men and women are faced with each day in preaching the word of God鈥�. Cardinal Farrell said, 鈥渨hat I admire most is the deep faith of many of these people, the men and women, and especially the indigenous women who are here, who speak up, and who have a longing for the faith, and a longing for the knowledge of the faith, and we have to supply answers鈥�.