杏MAP导航

By Alessandro Gisotti

鈥淭he beloved Amazon region stands before the world in all its splendour, its drama and its mystery.鈥� Thus begins the .

Significance of the Apostolic Exhortation

In the first two points (2-4), the Pontiff explains 鈥渢he significance of this Exhortation鈥�, enriched with references to documents of the Episcopal Conferences of the countries that make up the Amazon region, as well as of poetry written by poets connected to the Amazon. He emphasizes that he desires 鈥渢o offer my own response鈥� that the Synod evoked in him and explains that he does not intend to substitute or duplicate the Final Document which he invites us to read 鈥渋n full鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis prays that the entire Church might allow itself to be 鈥渆nriched and challenged鈥� by it and that the Church in the Amazon might strive 鈥渢o apply it鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 dreams for the Amazon region

杏MAP导航 Francis shares his 鈥渄reams for the Amazon region鈥� (5-7), whose destiny must concern everyone because that land is also 鈥渙urs鈥�. His 鈥渇our great dreams鈥� are thus articulated: an Amazon region that 鈥渇ights for the rights of the poor鈥�, that 鈥減reserves its distinctive cultural riches鈥�, that 鈥渏ealously preserves its overwhelming natural beauty鈥� and lastly, that the Christian communities might be 鈥渃apable of generous commitment, incarnate in the Amazon region鈥�.

A social dream: the Church at the side of the oppresed

The first chapter of Querida Amazonia is focused on the 鈥渟ocial dream鈥� (8). It highlights that 鈥渁 true ecological approach鈥� is a 鈥渟ocial approach鈥� as well and, valuing the 鈥済ood living鈥� of the indigenous populations, he warns against an 鈥渆nvironmentalism鈥� concerned only with the environment. With vibrant tones, he speaks of 鈥渋njustice and crime鈥� (9-14). The 杏MAP导航 recalls that Benedict XVI had already denounced 鈥渢he devastation of the environment and the Amazon鈥�. The indigenous peoples, 杏MAP导航 Francis warns, suffer a 鈥渟ubjection鈥� on the part of both the local and outside powers. According to 杏MAP导航 Francis, the economic operations that fuel devastation, killing and corruption merit the name of 鈥渋njustice and crime鈥�. With John Paul II, he reiterates that globalization must not become a new version of colonialism.

A social dream: that the poor might be heard regarding the Amazon鈥檚 future

In the face of so much injustice, the 杏MAP导航 asks that we 鈥渇eel outrage鈥� and that we 鈥渂eg forgiveness鈥� (15-19). According to 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渘etworks of solidarity and development鈥� are needed, and he requests everyone to commit themselves, including political leaders. The 杏MAP导航 then dwells on the theme of 鈥渁 sense of community鈥� (20-22). He recalls that for the Amazonian peoples, human relationships 鈥渁re steeped in the surrounding nature鈥�. Thus, he writes, they experience a real 鈥渦prootedness鈥� when they are 鈥渇orced to migrate to the cities鈥�.

A social dream:  that the Amazon region become a place of dialogue

The last part of the first chapter is dedicated to the 鈥渂roken institutions鈥� (23-25) and to 鈥渟ocial dialogue鈥� (26-27). The 杏MAP导航 denounces the evil of corruption which poisons the State and its institutions. He also expresses the hope that the Amazon might become 鈥渁 place of social dialogue鈥�, first of all, with the least, and that the voice of the poor might be 鈥渢he most authoritative voice鈥� in the Amazon region.

A cultural dream: taking care of the Amazon polyhedron

The second chapter is dedicated to the 鈥渃ultural dream鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis makes it immediately clear that 鈥渢o promote the Amazon region鈥� does not mean 鈥渃olonizing it culturally鈥� (28). He thus uses an image that is dear to him 鈥� 鈥渢he Amazonian polyhedron鈥� (29-32). 鈥淧ostmodern colonization鈥� needs to be combatted, he says. For 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渃aring for roots鈥� is urgent (33-35). Citing Laudato si鈥� and Christus vivit, he emphasizes that the 鈥渁 consumerist vision of human beings鈥� tends to 鈥渉ave a leveling effect on cultures鈥� and this has an effect above all on young people. The 杏MAP导航 asks young people to 鈥渢ake charge of your roots鈥�, and to 鈥渞ecover their damaged memory鈥�.

A cultural dream: an intercultural encounter rather than a closed 鈥渋ndigenism鈥�

The Apostolic Exhortation then dwells on the 鈥渋ntercultural encounter鈥� (36-38). Even the 鈥渟upposedly more developed cultures鈥�, he observes, can learn from peoples who have 鈥渄eveloped a cultural treasure, interacting with nature鈥�. Diversity should, therefore, not be 鈥渁 wall鈥� but 鈥渁 bridge鈥� which rejects 鈥渁 completely enclosed 鈥榠ndigenism鈥欌��. The last part of the second chapter is dedicated to the theme of 鈥渆ndangered cultures, peoples at risk鈥� (39-40). In any project for the Amazon region, the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 recommendation is that 鈥渢here is a need to respect the rights of peoples鈥�. 鈥淚t will be hard for them to remain unaffected鈥�, he adds, if the environment in which they are born and in which they have grown up 鈥渋s damaged鈥�.

An ecological dream: to unify caring for the environment and caring for people

The third chapter proposes 鈥渁n ecological dream鈥� and is the chapter that is most directly connected with the Encyclical Laudato si鈥�. In the introduction (41-42), the fact that there exists a close relationship between the human being and nature in the Amazon is underlined. 杏MAP导航 Francis emphasizes that taking care of our brothers and sisters as the Lord takes care of us is 鈥渢he first ecology that we need鈥�. Caring for the environment and caring for the poor are 鈥渋nseparable鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis then directs his attention to 鈥渢he dream made of water鈥� (43-46). He cites Pablo Neruda and other local poets regarding the power and beauty of the Amazonas. Through their poetry, the 杏MAP导航 writes, they 鈥渉elp free us from the technocratic and consumerist paradigm that destroys nature鈥�.

An ecological dream: sustainable development in the Amazon region

According to the 杏MAP导航, it is urgent that 鈥渢he cry of the Amazon region鈥� be listened to. He recalls that the health of the planet depends on its health. There are, he writes, powerful interests which are not only local interests, but are even international. The solution is not, therefore, 鈥渋nternationalizing鈥� the Amazon region; what needs to grow is 鈥渞esponsibility on the part of national governments鈥�. Sustainable development, he continues, requires that the people living there be always informed about projects that concern them. In this regard, he hopes that 鈥渁 legal framework鈥� with 鈥渃lear boundaries鈥� will be created.

He thus invites us to 鈥渢he prophecy of contemplation鈥� (53-57). By listening to the indigenous peoples, he underlines, we can love the Amazon region and 鈥渘ot simply use it鈥�; we can find in it 鈥渁 theological locus, a space where God himself reveals himself and summons his sons and daughters鈥�. The last part of Chapter Three is centered on 鈥渆cological education and habits鈥� (58-60). The 杏MAP导航 points out that ecology is not a technical theme, but that it includes an 鈥渆ducational dimension鈥�.

An ecclesial dream: to develop a Church with an Amazonian face

The final chapter is the longest and is dedicated 鈥渕ore directly鈥� toward pastors and members of the Catholic faithful. Its focus is the 鈥渆cclesial dream鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 invites us to 鈥渄evelop a Church with an Amazonian face鈥� through a 鈥済reat missionary proclamation鈥� (61), a 鈥渕essage that needs to be heard in the Amazon region鈥� (62-65). A 鈥渟ocial message鈥� is not enough according to the 杏MAP导航. These peoples have 鈥渁 right to hear the Gospel鈥�, otherwise, 鈥渆very ecclesial structure would become鈥� an NGO.

A substantial portion is then dedicated to inculturation. Referring to Gaudium et spes, he speaks of 鈥渋nculturation鈥� (66-69) as a process which brings 鈥渢o fulfilment in the light of the Gospel鈥� the good that already exists in the Amazonian cultures.

An ecclesial dream: a renewed inculturation of the Gospel in the Amazon region

The 杏MAP导航 then turns his gaze more in depth to the 鈥減aths of inculturation in the Amazon region鈥� (70-74). The values present in the indigenous communities, he writes, need to be taken into account 鈥渋n the process of evangelization鈥�. Then, in the next two paragraphs, he dwells on 鈥渟ocial and spiritual inculturation鈥� (75-76). The 杏MAP导航 highlights that, given the condition of poverty in which many of those who live in the Amazonian region experience, inculturation needs to have a 鈥渕arkedly social cast鈥�. At the same time, however, the social dimension should be integrated with the 鈥渟piritual鈥� one.

An ecclesial dream: accessibility of the Sacraments to everyone, especially the poor

The Apostolic Exhortation then indicates the 鈥渟tarting points for an Amazonian holiness鈥� (77-80) which should not copy 鈥渕odels imported from other places鈥�. He emphasizes that 鈥渋t is possible to take up an indigenous symbol in some way, without necessarily considering it as idolatry鈥�. It is possible to use 鈥渁 myth charged with spiritual meaning鈥�, he adds, without necessarily considering it to be 鈥渁 pagan error鈥�. The same applies to some religious feasts which, even if they require a 鈥減rocess of purification鈥�, 鈥渉ave a sacred meaning鈥�.

An ecclesial dream: inculturating the liturgy

Another significant passage in Querida Amazonia is on the inculturation of the liturgy (81-84). The Pontiff notes that the Second Vatican Council had already called for an effort 鈥渢o inculturate the liturgy among indigenous peoples鈥�. In addition, he recalls in a footnote that during the Synod 鈥渁 proposal to develop an 鈥楢mazonian rite鈥� 鈥� emerged. The Sacraments, he states, 鈥渟hould be accessible, especially for the poor鈥�. The Church, he adds, recalling Amoris laetitia cannot transform itself into a 鈥渢oll-house鈥�.

An ecclesial dream: sending missionaries to the Amazon region

Connected to this is the theme of the 鈥渋nculturation of forms of ministry鈥� (85-90) to which the Church must give a 鈥渃ourageous response鈥�. According to the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渁 more frequent celebration of the Eucharist,鈥� must be guaranteed. In this regard, he reiterates, it is important to 鈥渄etermine what is most specific to a priest鈥�. The answers, as one finds, is in the Sacrament of Holy Orders which enables the priest to be the sole presider over the Eucharist. How is it possible, then, 鈥渢o ensure this priestly ministry鈥� in remote zones? 杏MAP导航 Francis urges all the bishops, especially those in Latin America, 鈥渢o be more generous鈥� in encouraging those who 鈥渄isplay a missionary vocation鈥� to choose the Amazon region and invites them to evaluate formation to the priesthood.

An ecclesial dream: fostering the involvement of the laity in the communities

After speaking about the Sacraments, Querida Amazonia dwells on 鈥渃ommunities filled with life鈥� (91-98) in which the laity must assume 鈥渋mportant responsibilities鈥�. For 杏MAP导航 Francis, in fact, it is not a matter 鈥渙f facilitating a greater presence of ordained ministers鈥�. He calls this a 鈥渘arrow鈥� objective if it does not succeed in awakening 鈥渘ew life in communities鈥�. Thus, new 鈥渓ay services鈥� are called for. Only through an 鈥渁ctive involvement of the laity鈥�, he reiterates, can the Church respond to the 鈥渃hallenges in the Amazon region鈥�. According to 杏MAP导航 Francis, consecrated persons have a special role to play. At the same time, he reminds us of the role of the base communities who have defended social rights. In particular, he encourages the activities of REPAM and 鈥渋tinerant missionary teams鈥�.

An ecclesial dream: new places for women, but without clericalization

A part of the document is dedicated to the 鈥渟trength and gift of women鈥� (99-103). 杏MAP导航 Francis recognizes that in the Amazon region some communities are only sustained 鈥渂ecause of the presence of strong and generous women鈥�. He then cautions against reducing 鈥渢he Church to her functional structures鈥�. If that were the case, women would only be given a role insofar as they had access to Holy Orders. According to 杏MAP导航 Francis, the clericalization of women must be rejected, and instead, a feminine contribution that allows the 鈥渢ender strength of Mary鈥� to be present should be accepted. He thus encourages the creation of new feminine services which 鈥� with the public recognition of the bishop 鈥� allow their input to affect decisions taken in the community.

An ecclesial dream: Christians fighting together to defend the poor in the Amazon region

According to the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渆xpanding horizons beyond conflicts鈥� (104-105) is a must as well as allowing the Amazon region to challenge us to 鈥渢ranscend limited perspectives鈥� mired in partial approaches鈥�. The fourth chapter then ends on the theme 鈥渆cumenical and interreligious coexistence鈥� (106-110). The 杏MAP导航 invites believers to 鈥渇ind occasions to speak to one another and to act together for the common good鈥�. 鈥淗ow can we not struggle together?鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis asks. 鈥淗ow can we not pray and work together, side by side, to defend the poor of the Amazon region?鈥�

Entrusting the Amazon region and its peoples to Mary

杏MAP导航 Francis concludes Querida Amazonia with a prayer to the Mother of the Amazon Region (111). 鈥淢other, look upon the poor of the Amazon region鈥�, he prays, 鈥渇or their home is being destroyed by petty interests鈥�. Touch the hearts of the powerful, for, even though we sense that the hour is late, you call us to save what is still alive.鈥�