WASHINGTON — Bishops from throughout the world gave high marks to Pope Francis’ new apostolic exhortation “Querida Amazonia,” taking note of the care with which it was crafted to include the Amazon region’s distinct characteristics and its message for the worldwide Church.
“Today our Holy Father Pope Francis offers us a hopeful and challenging vision of the future of the Amazon region, one of the earth’s most sensitive and crucial ecosystems, and home to a rich diversity of cultures and peoples,” said Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a Feb. 12 statement.
“The pope reminds us that the Church serves humanity by proclaiming Jesus Christ and his Gospel of love,” the prelate said, “and he calls for an evangelization that respects the identities and histories of the Amazonian peoples and that is open to the ‘novelty of the Spirit, who is always able to create something new with the inexhaustible riches of Jesus Christ.’”
“Querida Amazonia” (“Beloved Amazon”) is divided into four chapters, each one focusing on a specific “dream” – social, cultural, ecological and ecclesial – each of which were dimensions presented during October’s Synod on the Amazon. Dated Feb. 2, the feast of the Presentation, it was released Feb. 12 at the Vatican.
In the apostolic exhortation, Pope Francis declared that the Amazon region is “facing an ecological disaster” and that its people are “witnessing an increase of xenophobia, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.”
Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Australia, president of the Australian bishops’ conference, said “Querida Amazonia” addressed two issues critical to the Australian context: indigenous culture and an integral understanding of ecology.
Some prelates took to Twitter to offer their observations on “Querida Amazonia.”
Pope Francis’ own Twitter account posted this shortly after the exhortation’s release: “I dream of Christian communities capable of generous commitment, incarnate in the Amazon region, and giving the Church new faces with Amazonian features.”
Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, tweeted in response: “Beautiful. May the Amazon region and every region of the world be transformed in the Image of Jesus Christ. Pray for the Holy Father.”
Stay Connected With Us