AMERICA/BRAZIL - In Europe there is talk of Amazonia and of integral ecology

Friday, 21 September 2018 synod of bishops   amazon   human rights   indigenous  

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Berlin (Agenzia Fides) - The path regarding the preparation for the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon in October 2019 continues. This week, meetings were held in Berlin and Brussels, promoted by REPAM (Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network), with personalities from the political and ecclesial world. Representatives of charitable organizations Misereor and Adveniat, together with Card. Pedro Barreto Jimeno and Mauricio López, respectively Vice-President and Executive Secretary of REPAM, talked with representatives of German public institutions, in particular on the signing of the ILO (International Labor Organization) 169 agreement which Germany has not yet ratified, which directly involves indigenous peoples. Subsequently, the delegation moved to Brussels, where other meetings were held with the Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE).
Yesterday, 20 September, a meeting was held, promoted by COMECE on the theme: "The indigenous peoples of the Amazon. How can the European Union promote their rights?". In his speech, Cardinal Barreto Jimeno cited the spiritual testament of Card. Carlo Maria Martini ("The Church is 200 years behind") to reflect on the urgency of greater attention and courage in addressing the themes of "Integral ecology" on which Pope Francis insists, and on the protection of the rights of the most exposed populations of the Amazon. "With the Synod next year, for the first time the Church will give the floor to the indigenous peoples of the Amazon forest, the Church will listen to them", said Cardinal Barreto. Then he insisted on everyone’s commitment regarding: poverty, rights, ecology, education.
In the note sent to Fides, the President of COMECE, Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, comments: "the situation of the Amazon is a global problem, which requires a global response. And Europe, being part of the problem, can and must be part of the solution".
During his speech, Card. Claudio Hummes, Archbishop emeritus of Saint Paul and President of REPAM highlighted: "the ecological question, as recalled by Pope Francis, directly calls us into question, because it concerns the same human life". Then he invited to reflect on the suffering of the indigenous peoples, threatened by the exploitation of the Amazon forest, rivers, raw materials and nature. "With the 2019 Synod new paths for the Church open, and also for an integral ecology". "The global ecosystem is threatened and the Church can only be attentive, present and on the side of the rights of the weakest", concluded Cardinal Hummes. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 21/09/2018)


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