Synod Day 8: Leaving room for the
abundant outpouring of the Spirit
Pope Francis attended the 12th and final General
Congregation of the Synod of Bishops on Tuesday afternoon. There were 173 Synod
Fathers present. On Wednesday morning, Synod participants return to working in
the small language groups. Their work will be presented to the assembly on Thursday
afternoon, 17 October.
Vatican News – Vatican City
The Amazonian world wants a Church that is allied to it. The
Synod participants were reminded that the Church cannot speak of the poor while
forgetting that the people are being crucified. That would be committing the
sin of indifference, of omission. The Church is called to take up the cry of
the people and of the earth, with the Gospel as her point of departure. This is
the only way that she will assume the countenance of the Good Samaritan, will
become missionary, capable of defending the least, without being afraid of the
possibility of martyrdom. “It is better to die fighting for life, than to live
for death”, as one person boldly stated. Thus the Synod continued its journey
with a reminder that came up in several interventions to leave space for the
abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit rather than remaining closed in by
functional solutions.
No to victimization, more co-responsibility
The populations in several of the more vulnerable regions of
Amazon see themselves as having often been abandoned. One example are street
children. The Church is called to help them to boost their self-esteem, to
prevent them from becoming victims. In the end, this too is a risk because it
is not solving the underlying problems. The region itself is undeniably a
victim of abuse. What is truly necessary, it was noted, is to help the people
themselves feel co-responsible for the construction of their own destiny.
Believers, therefore, should be at the forefront of reclaiming their rights and
assuming the obligation of living simply and hopefully as they journey toward
the Kingdom promised by God to His children.
Fundamental contribution of science for the care of creation
The cry for help arising both from the people and from the
earth involves a response from everyone. Believers are called to recognize the
value of every creature. In fact, care for our Common Home is rooted in the
Christian vocation. Action is a must on the part of individuals, communities
and the world. A disinterested response is not possible. The future of entire
generations is at stake. Protecting the Amazon from man-made destruction is a
responsibility that touches all of humanity. Thus arose the appeal for a global
response to climate change through the creation of an entity that would
coordinate scientists and academics on the international level with the
Pontifical Academy of Sciences. The hope was also expressed that greater work
be undertaken in the field of education to sensitize the public regarding the
care of our Common Home. It was even proposed that a new Canon –an ecological
canon – be added to the Code of Canon Law which would treat the duties of
Christians regarding the environment.
Putting out into the deep for a profound ecological conversion
The Church’s appeal is that of putting out into the deep,
assuming the call for a profound ecological, synodal, and complete conversion
to Christ and His Gospel. Walking together as a universal family is the
invitation now being extended, within the conviction that the Amazon region
does not belong to either the States or those who govern them. They are,
rather, administrators and they must be accountability of what they are doing.
Through the daily gift of self made by the laity –
consecrated or married –the Church as “sacrament” will be truly be formed in
Amazonia, and will manifest the presence of Christ in that region. The need was
expressed for a spirituality and a sacramental theology capable of allowing
itself to be challenged by the lived experience of the communities and the
gifts which they have already received. In this regard, the work already
undertaken to coordinate efforts at the level of the local church (such as
REPAM) was encouraged.
Symmetry of relations
An intercultural dialogue inspired by the Spirit of
Pentecost was also highlighted. The invitation is to let go of the habit of
imposing or of appropriating in order to embrace, what was termed, a “symmetry
of relations”. Humility was named at the attitude necessary for such a dialogue,
founded on the common conviction of being co-responsible in the care of the
Common Home. What is not possible alone can be done together. This requires the
urgent construction of an inclusive “we”, in which every person, although each
is different, is necessary precisely because each is different. Thus the
proposal for the creation of formative processes in intercultural dialogue in
which theory can be tested by praxis.
The drama of priestless communities
Once again, the Synod participants were reminded about the
realistic drama of the many communities, an estimated 70% in the Amazon region,
that are visited by a priest only once or twice each year. They are deprived of
the sacraments, of the Word of God, of those celebrations so central to the
Christian life, such as Easter, Pentecost, Christmas. Some choose to frequent
other Christian denominations so as not to remain in the condition of “sheep
without a shepherd”. The universal Church cannot remain indifferent to this
situation. Courageous choices, open to the voice of the Spirit, need to be
made. It was also pointed out how fundamental it is to pray to the “Lord of the
harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest”. The pastoral care of the
people of God is “first and foremost the concern of the Lord”, one Synod Father
stated. Thus we must ask Him for the solutions.
Mission: in the footsteps of Jesus
It seems to some that the passion for mission has faded in
the most remote areas. Some areas are heavily affected by the consequences
provoked by large, unsustainable mining projects: illness (some of which are
non-curable), drug trafficking, loss of identity. The international community
needs to be exhorted not to invest in industrial projects that provoke harm and
illness to the surrounding populations. In addition, the Amazon needs
missionaries, for they are the only ones that the local populations still
trust.
One such missionary effort that was spoken of is the
precious contribution of itinerant missionary teams inspired by Jesus who
visited village after village without stopping, without even having a place to
stay. This provides a model for the Church always “on the move”, leaving behind
a pastoral ministry meant to preserve the past to one that is creative. Certain
structures, it was noted, are already obsolete and are in desperate need of
updating. We can no longer be “obsolete” while the rest of the world moves
ahead. The Gospel, in fact, always has something new to say. This too is a part
of the ecological conversion. Openness to new forms of ministry means the
incorporation of women and young people.
Migrants in the cities, torn from their territories
The Church is called to enter into the everyday lives of men
and women—collegially and synodally. Once again, the topic of migrants w—those
uprooted and transplanted in the cities – was brought to the attention of those
in the Hall. There in the cities, they are forced to confront strong
contrasting situations: political, social, economic, the existential void,
exasperated individualism. Making the Gospel present there is a duty, and in
this way, the city becomes a place for mission and sanctification.
It was therefore recommended that a specific pastoral
ministry be promoted in this context which considers the indigenous migrants as
the protagonist. The connection of the land with a particular people as
expressed in the Bible helps understand the gravity of tearing a people from
their own territory. Defending their territory is of utmost importance both for
the Amazonian biome and for the way of life of the local populations. In this
sense, an “intransigent defense” of the indigenous peoples was recommended.
This includes the right to their own culture, their own theology, their own
religion – these are riches that need to be safeguarded in the interest of all
humanity.
Finally, the problem of food was brought up. With its fresh
water, the Amazon could contribute in reducing hunger in the world. In fact,
26% of the world’s fresh water comes from this region. Due to this fact, one
person suggested that sustainable projects should be encouraged.
At the end of the 12th General Congregation,
just before the part dedicated to spontaneous interventions, Pope Francis asked
to speak. When he had finished, those in the Hall watched a film about the
floating hospital named after Pope Francis which was inaugurated this past
August. This hospital serves two purposes: that of bringing the Gospel and
health care to hundreds of thousands living in the Brazilian State of Parà
along the Amazon River who can only be reached by river.
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