Cardinal Parito: “Francisco was the best gift for the church in the Amazon”

Patricia y Netroza-Ciudad Del Vaticano

Cardinal Pedro Barretto, head of the Amazon’s ecclesiastical conference (CAMA), presented a deep reflection on the legacy of Pope Francis in the Amazon region. For Barretto, the Argentine ink was a real “gift” for the church in this field, not only for his words and teachings, but also for the tangible commitment that he showed with the indigenous peoples and the defense of the region. Especially highlighted the Apostolic Guidance Dear AmazonWho opened an unprecedented path for the Zionists in the region and was distinguished by A before and after the way the church accompanies the Amazon peoples.

According to Barretto, Francisco’s work was “God’s foreplay” of indigenous societies, which are historically affected by suffering, abandonment and environmental degradation. Not only did the Pope give them a voice, but also strengthened a pastoral vision that focuses on respecting cultures, human rights and sponsoring the joint home. For the church in the Amazon, his Pontificate meant the renewal motivation, based on listening and inserting the original peoples.

What was missing in the area

While it is still done, Cardinal stated that Francisco did not close the important issues, but he left many of the operations that should continue. He emphasized as pastoral achievements on the Amazon and the final document that contains more than 100 pastoral proposals, which aim to accompany God’s people in this region, as achievements. Among the progress, the most prominent participation of indigenous women in leadership positions within the church, as is the case with the religious Laura Vikonia (Brazil) and the leader Patricia Galinga (Ecuador), the deputies of the president of Cama. Amazon ritualsThe ritual proposal in the process seeks to express the Christian faith from the cultural and spiritual identity of the Amazon peoples. Although there is still a way to go, Barito is sure that these rituals will become a reality thanks to hard work and adhere to many specialists in the region.

A tale between the Pope and the original peoples

Finally, he shared a very special story that lived with the Pope. In a private audience with the presidency of the Church Panamika Network (Repam) and CEAMA, Sister Laura Vikonia addressed the Pope by describing it as “grandfather”, a term loaded with respect and wisdom in the original cultures. Francisco deeply moved to this gesture, which symbolizes the love and gratitude of the indigenous peoples towards him. This meeting reflects, according to Barito, the real and transformative convergence that the Pope had with the Amazon and its people.

Copy of the interview:

An interview with Cardinal Pedro Barretto, head of the ecclesiastical conference in Amazon, Cama.

What is the legacy of leaving the Pope to the Amazon?

As head of Cama, Pope Francis, not only in the word with “Dear Amazon”, his missionary rationalization, which opened an unpublished path for the branch in the Amazon Church, which covers 105 ecclesiastical states. In addition, Pope Francis gave them the indigenous peoples. I would like to say that these hugs from God are something that did not historically forget the suffering, the deterioration of the quality of the life of the original peoples and those who live there in the Amazon, but it was also a motive to continue work and dream of caring for cultures, caring for human rights, and caring for our joint house, but also to build the church that God dreams about. In short, I can say that Pope Francis was the best gift for the church in the Amazon.

What do you feel that this region is still made?

In fact for the church in the Amazon, we already have two very important elements. The first element was the cinemis on the Amazon and the second side is the final document approved by Pope Francis, who is completed with the “dear Amazon” catalyst. There are 110 pastoral proposals, because the soul is a prominent pastoral, that is, it is accompanied by the fact that the people from God who pilgrims in the region, which has a long path of suffering, but also a very deep experience in faith, because, as shown, there is in the presidency of La Ceama, two of the two indigenous people: Laura Fico’s sister, from Brazil; Patricia Galinga from Ecuador. The two do not contribute to the presidency, not only the vision of women, but also the feeling of the original peoples, in the presidency, in the service of the regular association that we will obtain in the coming months, from the original peoples, and representatives of the seven episcopal conferences. Therefore, I think there are suspended things. Pope Francis with his wisdom did not close the songs. There are open problems with the new Pope and with the process that we will live, it will be clarified. What is more advanced is the Amazon rituals, but they still have to have a fun time but there are many brothers and sisters in the very specialized Amazon who have already done as a basic frame for the Amazon rituals to be immediately located.

A story with Pope Francis in his heart

Always on the Amazon, in June of last year, we reached the presidency of the Panamazonic Ecclesial Network, Repam; And the chairmanship of the Amazon’s ecclesiastical conference. Together we present ourselves to Pope Francis, we received a private audience. It was a very important experience, and I was displaying bishops, priests, religious and indigenous people. And he arrived, I can say, because she is general, Sister Laura Vikonia from Brazil, who is the vice president of Cama and told the Pope in the foreground: Grandpa! Because the indigenous people talk about the grandfather. And the grandfather is the wise person, who refers to the road. I saw Pope Francis’s affection, when she was a sister on behalf of all the original peoples thanked the grandfather, the wise person, the person who showed this love. I think this proximity to Pope Francis, from the church in the Amazon. Among the Amazon, we realize that we contribute as Amazon a day, 20 percent of the world’s oxygen from other advantages of humanity, but at the same time also for each of us: the joy and renewal of our church.