杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

Details of the final document dominated the last of the Synod press briefings in the Holy See Press Office on Saturday evening. The two guests on the podium responded to journalists鈥� questions and shared their own insights on the main themes that emerged.

Bishop David Martìnez De Aguirre Guinea, OP

Bishop David Martìnez De Aguirre Guinea is Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Maldonado in Peru. He said one of the strongest themes to come out of the Synod was inculturation, how to harmonize local cultures with the Church. He also said it was important for indigenous people to reclaim their role as protagonists. The final document reflects the concerns of the local bishops for their territory, he said, but that the Church allies herself with the people of the Amazon Region in defense of their land and of life.

The Bishop described one of the strongest images of the Synod as being that of 杏MAP导航 Francis interacting personally with the indigenous people present. He said he returns to the Amazon hopeful and encouraged.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ

Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, is Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. He began by echoing the words of the 杏MAP导航 in thanking the media for helping the Synod to reach the people. Cardinal Czerny thanked journalist for their 鈥渆nergy, interest and efforts鈥�, helping the Synod to speak and to be heard.

Referring to the final document, the Cardinal focused on the word 鈥渃onversion鈥�, saying it responds to the title of the Synod itself: 鈥淣ew paths for the Church and for Integral Ecology鈥�. Without conversion there are no new paths, said Cardinal Czerny. We just repeat what we have done before, 鈥渂ut with no real change鈥�.

When the world saw the Amazon burning, people realized we have to change, he said. New paths happen when there are new ways to face old problems, through change and 鈥渃onversion鈥�, he added.

Four 鈥渃onversions鈥�

The first conversion is pastoral: meaning the way the Church acts with the people. The Church is always trying to do better, said Cardinal Czerny, but conditions are changing so we cannot continue doing things the way we have.

The second conversion is cultural. 鈥淒ifferences need to be embraced and respected鈥�, said the Cardinal, and the Church must learn to be interculturally respectful. Divisions and tension, he said, are getting worse.

The third is ecological conversion. 鈥淓cology鈥� may be fashionable, said Cardinal Czerny, but we have not grasped the gravity of the situation. The current ecological crisis is so deep, 鈥渋f we don鈥檛 change we won鈥檛 make it鈥�, he said.

Cardinal Czerny described the fourth conversion in the word 鈥淪ynodal鈥�: something that helps us learn how to be better Church, how to move forward together, and how to involve people in that movement. Forms of democracy have failed us in finding a way forward, he said. A Synod, instead, is based on 鈥渓istening, reflecting, and praying鈥�. The Church hopes this model may assists others too.

Questions

Journalists鈥� questions covered a variety of topics related to the Synod final document, ranging from women deacons, to ecological sins, and the question of what happens now. With regard to the latter, Bishop David Guinea stressed the important work that was done in preparation for the Synod. He called it 鈥渁 process that cannot be stopped鈥�, but said it would be important to build networks in order to confront the problems of the Amazon Region together.

Women in the Church

The role of women and the question of women deacons was raised several times. Cardinal Czerny responded with a reflection on what 杏MAP导航 Francis had said earlier in his closing remarks: namely, that people tend to think of women in the Church in terms of 鈥渇unctions鈥�, what they can or cannot do. We must not reduce the vocation and contribution of women in church to functions, said the Cardinal.

Women deacons

When it comes to the question of women deacons, Cardinal Czerny clarified how the Church respects 鈥渄ifferent levels of authority鈥�: there are issues decided at parish level, others at diocesan level, some with the bishops鈥� conference, and others higher still. The issue of women deacons 鈥渋s not within scope of the Synod for the Amazon鈥�, said the Cardinal. It must be reflected on at a different level.

Ecological sins

The question of 鈥渆cological sins鈥� is addressed in Paragraph #82 of the Synod final document. Bishop David Guinea stressed our obligation to 鈥渓isten to the cry of the earth鈥�. He spoke of how missionaries in the Amazon Region have to confront the effects of exploitation, toxic pollution, and contamination.

The proposal to set up a socio-environmental observatory, added Cardinal Czerny, would help people in the area understand the phenomena better and be able to respond on a regional basis.

Scientific contribution

Finally, Cardinal Czerny responded to a question about the contribution of scientists and experts at the Synod. 鈥淭hey translated the suffering that we experience and witness, into data, hypothesis and proposals鈥�, he said. The scientists spoke of the urgent need to address the suffering of our planet, and helped us to feel how badly things are going鈥�, he added. They also helped translate our concerns into hope because there are practical and reasonable solutions at hand. These are not about more technology, said the Cardinal. The Amazon will prosper 鈥渋f trees keep standing and water keeps flowing鈥�, he said, and this will mean hope for the Amazon 鈥渁nd for us all鈥�.