On Thursday, October 17, 2019, the Holy Father met with a group of some 40Amazon natives, between participants in the Synod for the Pan-Amazonian Region and in other initiatives being held in Rome these days, accompanied by His Excellency, Monsignor Roque Paloschi, Archbishop of Porto Velho, and by His Eminence, Cardinal Claudio Hummes.
The meeting opened with a brief two-voice intervention, read by a woman and a man, representatives of the indigenous peoples, who expressed through them their gratitude to the Holy Father for convoking the Synod and asked his help to realize their desire to guarantee a serene and happy life to their peoples, taking care of their own land, protecting its waters, so that their descendants can enjoy them.
Pope Francis addressed a few words to those present, stressing how the Gospel is like a seed, which falls on the earth it finds and grows with characteristics of that land. With reference to the Amazonian Region, the Holy Father highlighted the dangers of new forms of colonialism.
Finally, making reference to the origins of Christianity, which was born in the Jewish world, developed in the Greek-Latin world and then reached other lands, such as the Slav, the Oriental, the American, Pope Francis confirmed that the Gospel must be inculturated, so that “peoples receive Jesus’ announcement in their own culture.”
