Pope Francis receives organizations from the Amazon at the Vatican

Pope Francis received this June 3 at the Vatican the presidents of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) and the Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network (REPAM), within the framework of its tenth anniversary.

Both organizations, which work to “design and consolidate a Church with a more Amazonian face, that reflects the interculturality, challenges and hopes of local communities,” referred to this meeting as “a historic and significant moment,” since It is the first time that the Holy Father meets with them privately.

Likewise, they highlighted in a statement that this audience “reflects Pope Francis’ permanent commitment to the Amazon, a vital region for humanity and the Church,” as well as “his dedication to the protection and appreciation of Amazonian communities, the home common and integral ecology”.

“This meeting not only reinforces the importance of the Amazon in the heart of the Church, but also highlights synodality and permanent collaboration in favor of social and environmental justice,” they noted.

For Cardinal Pedro Barreto Jimeno, Archbishop Emeritus of Huancayo (Peru) and president of CEAMA, this act is also an opportunity “to show our affection” and gratitude for having thought about the Amazon “from the beginning of his service as Bishop of Rome.” ”.

“The Amazon is in the heart of God and is a source of life in the heart of the Church. That is why we are very excited to be able to really feel these words of encouragement to continue this evangelizing service of the Catholic Church on pilgrimage in this Amazon biome,” he highlighted.

The cardinal also specified that “we are aware that it is an offering that we make to Pope Francis to live the synodality so especially awaited by him and by all those who believe in Jesus and in the renewal of our Catholic Church.”

For his part, Mons. Rafael Cob García, president of REPAM, highlighted that both organizations are “equal in their identity but different in their activities.”

“Our objective is to develop a Church with an Amazonian face, promoting a culture of encounter for pluriform harmony, as the beloved Amazon teaches us,” he expressed.

Bishop Cob urged to “care for, defend and evangelize” the Amazon, as well as to strengthen “this path in defense of our common home, of the peoples who live in the Amazon and of the creation that God has given us.”

In addition to the meeting with Pope Francis, CEAMA and REPAM met with other Vatican dicasteries and held meetings with institutions that collaborate on the synodal path of the Church.