The Western media’s interpretation of Querida Amazonia, Pope Francis’ response to the crisis in the Amazon region, was that he had taken one cautious step back from agreeing to the ordination of married men to the priesthood, and two steps back from ordaining women to the diaconate.

The Western media’s interpretation of Querida Amazonia, Pope Francis’ response to the crisis in the Amazon region, was that he had taken one cautious step back from agreeing to the ordination of married men to the priesthood, and two steps back from ordaining women to the diaconate. In fact he closed neither door, but nor did he invite anyone through them.

This emphasis overlooks the fact that the real Amazon crisis is about the depletion of the rainforest and the fate of the indigenous peoples who depend on it, not clerical celibacy. This was why he summoned Church leaders from the region to Rome last year for a synod to discuss the crisis, and what the Church’s response to it should be.

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