Pope Francis presides over the Holy Mass for the opening of the special assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican City.
Over the next three weeks, some 260 participants will talk about climate change, migration, and evangelism. But one topic has dominated the headlines: whether married men will be allowed to become priests.
One of the items on the working document – the instrumentum laboris – is the suggestion that in remote parts of the Amazon, older, married, men should be ordained.
Click on photos to enlarge
The Amazon Synod explained:
A synod is a gathering of priests and bishops to discuss issues affecting the Church
The Amazon Synod is a special synod to discuss issues affecting people living in the Amazon region
Most participants are bishops and priests from the Amazon region
After discussion, the synod will vote on their conclusions and then present a final document to the Pope
The conclusions of the synod are advisory. It is the Pope who makes any final decision
Photo: EPA-EFE/GIUSEPPE LAMI
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