Whispers in the loggia: Vatican "Prime" – Pope Calls Amazon Synod for 2019

At the Angelus which wrapped up this morning's canonization of 35 saints – mostly martyrs from indigenous communities in Mexico and Brazil – the Pope took the liberty of making yet another surprise announcement, here translated into English:

Welcoming the desire of some Episcopal Conferences of Latin America, as well as the voices of pastors and faithful from other parts of the world, I have decided to convoke a Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region, which will take place in Rome in October 2019. The principal scope of this gathering is to figure out new ways for the evangelization of that portion of God's People, especially its indigenous communities, often forgotten and without the chance for a serene living, as well as the crisis of the Amazon forest, a critically important lung for our planet. May the new saints [canonized today] intercede for this ecclesial event, that, in respect for the beauty of creation, all the peoples of the earth might praise God, Lord of the universe, and be enlightened by him to follow the paths of justice and peace.

To be sure, this development brings numerous ramifications – the first of which is a confirmation that the Synod on Young People and Vocational Discernment, slated to take place a year from now, will not be a two-part affair, unlike the 2014-5 gatherings on the family which birthed Amoris Laetitia.

As opposed to the topic-based "Ordinary" gatherings of the Synod – which are comprised of roughly 200 bishops elected from across the global church, in addition to the heads of Curial offices and a handful of appointed advisers and experts – a "Special" assembly is focused on one specific area of the Catholic world, from which the bulk of its membership is likewise drawn.

In the device's most prominent use, now-St John Paul II called special Synods for each of the five super-continents in the immediate run-up to the year 2000; the one for "America" – the entire land-mass, both north and south – began 20 years ago next month.

Developing – more to come.

-30-
by Rocco Palmo via Whispers in the Loggia