Synod: Summary of the second General Congregation of the Synod Fathers

On Monday afternoon, the works of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon continued with the 2nd General Congregation and with the elections of the members of the Commission for the elaboration of the Final Document and of the Commission for Information.

Four members of the Commission were elected, three more nominations will be made by Pope Francis in the following days.

The Synod Fathers then spoke in turn on numerous points:

Climate

They reflected on the importance of young people being protagonists in the fight against climate change, using young Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg, as an example.

Reflecting on climate change, the Synod Fathers stated that the climate is a common good that must be protected and preserved for future generations. They suggested that we stop using fossil fuels, especially in the most industrialised countries – the main polluters.

Water

Another point the Synodal Fathers made was to stress the importance of the protection of groundwater from chemical contamination resulting from multinational production. They made particular reference to the active industrial mining currently affecting Indigenous peoples. Saving this water, they said, could help them to survive.

Rights to rites

Speaking of Indigenous rites, the Synod Fathers mentioned that the Church considers benevolently everything that is not linked to superstition, provided that it can harmonize with the true liturgical spirit.

Sacraments

Finally, the Synod Fathers discussed one of the proposals in the Working Document regarding the availability of Sacraments where there is a marked shortage of priests.