蜜桃交友

By Pope

The Prefect of the Dicastery for Communications, Dr Paolo Ruffini, opened the briefing. He confirmed that Cardinal Claudio Hummes, Archbishop emeritus of Sào Paulo, had presented the draft text of what will be the final synod document. The text contains details of what was discussed in both the General Congregations and small working groups. These issues include inculturation, and missionary and ecological conversion, among others. The main message to emerge, however, is that 鈥渢he process of listening is not yet over鈥�.

Ms Marcivana Rodrigues Paiva

Ms Marcivana Rodrigues Paiva represents the Sateré-Mawé indigenous people in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. She mentioned the active role taken by women in her territory. She also said she came to the Synod as a witness for indigenous people living in urban contexts. 35,000 of them live in the city of Manaus alone. Indigenous people migrate to the cities where they face discrimination and often consider themselves 鈥渋nvisible鈥�, she said.

Bishop Domenico Pompili

Bishop Domenico Pompili comes from Rieti, Italy. A devastating earthquake that struck his diocese in August 2016 left over 250 people dead and thousands homeless. Reconstruction is still far from complete. The Amazon is 鈥渁 metaphor鈥� for the wounded earth, he said, and he criticized the 鈥渆xcessive attention given to economic issues that privilege big cities over rural areas鈥�.

Fr Dario Bossi, M.C.C.J.

Fr Dario Bossi, M.C.C.J. is Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries in Brazil and has spent the past 15 years in the country. He addressed the impact of mineral extraction and the damage caused by multinational companies. His region is located 鈥渁t the heart of the Amazon鈥�, he said. It includes the 鈥渓argest open-air mine for the extraction of iron鈥�, an area that covers 900 kilometres and crosses 100 communities.

Deforestation is a problem, he said, because companies use the wood to produce fuel that causes pollution. He spoke of the effect of 30 years of toxic waste on the population, and of how mercury in the water affects the children.

Fr Bossi said that an ecumenical network collaborates with the Brazilian Bishops鈥� Conference, demonstrating their awareness and commitment 鈥渢o finding a solution鈥�.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., Archbishop of Vienna and President of the Austrian Bishops鈥� Conference, addressed journalists at the briefing, saying he had spent two weeks in the Amazon 鈥渓istening to their experiences鈥�. At the Synod, he said he learned 鈥渨e have nothing to teach the Amazon鈥�, but that we need to understand what our contribution can be. The Synod provides an opportunity to consider those who are 鈥渇orgotten by world politics鈥�, he said, and to 鈥済ive voice鈥� to those in the Amazon Region whose lives are threatened.

Proposals at the Synod for a permanent diaconate, he said, are aimed at 鈥渁ssisting pastoral ministry in this huge territory鈥�. Referring to the 180 permanent deacons who serve in his own Archdiocese of Vienna, the Cardinal said he thought the permanent diaconate was 鈥渦seful and significant for the life of the Church鈥�.

A question about mining

Fr Dario Bossi responded to a question about the effects of extractivism, the process of mining natural resources for exportation. There is nothing sustainable in this process, he confirmed. There is 鈥渘o intergenerational justice鈥�. Fr Bossi gave the example of his own community that had stood up to this 鈥渧iolence鈥� and called for reparation. They began by building a new settlement far from the polluted areas, he said, a sign that 鈥渉ope can be found with the Amazon communities themselves鈥�.

A question about impressions

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn was asked what he is learning from this Synod and what he will take back with him to Vienna. He responded saying he has been struck by 鈥渢he courage of the indigenous people who have lived under threat for 500 years鈥�. We must be 鈥渁lert and attentive to what it means for these people to be under pressure, under danger of extinction for centuries鈥�, he said. While the Church has used her voice to defend them in the past, it has not been enough, he added. We need to be attentive 鈥渢o those who have no voice鈥�, he concluded.

A question about rights

Ms Marcivana Rodrigues Paiva returned to the issue of urbanization saying that being 鈥渋nvisible鈥� in big cities means indigenous people have no rights. Indigenous pastoral ministry plays an important role in giving people living in urban areas 鈥渟upport and visibility鈥�, she said. Their cultural identity is tied to their territory, she added. They have no identity without their land.

A question about permanent deacons

Cardinal Schönborn was asked a follow-up question regarding the issue of permanent deacons. He responded by suggesting that more priests should be ready to serve in the Amazon. 鈥淓urope has an abundance of clergy鈥�, he said, but 鈥渏ustice asks us to do something鈥�. The Synod discussed the question of 鈥渧ocational solidarity鈥�, said the Cardinal, and agreed that the 鈥渨hole Church is co-responsible for the Amazon鈥�.

A question about development

The last question was put to Ms Marcivana Rodrigues Paiva and concerned the kind of development her people hope for. Her people鈥檚 spirituality is focused on the earth 鈥渇rom which we come鈥�, she said. 鈥淲hich is why we have such a strong relationship with the earth鈥�. Our ancestors have been caring for the earth for thousands of years, concluded Ms Marcivana Rodrigues Paiva. That is why 鈥渢he cry coming from the Amazon is to take care of mother earth鈥�, she said.