Pope Francis has ruled
against ordaining married men in the Amazon region as a means of addressing the
shortage of Catholic priests.
Bishops backed the
measure last year, but the decision needed the Pope’s approval to be
implemented.
Catholic priests are
required to abide by the rule of celibacy upon ordination except in cases where
married Anglican ministers have converted.
Celibacy is seen as
the devotion of one’s life to God.
A statement from the
Vatican said: “The Amazon challenges us, the Pope writes, to overcome
limited perspectives and not to content ourselves with solutions that address
only part of the situation.”
The Pope said there
was a need for ministers who can understand Amazonian sensibilities and
cultures from within. He urged bishops to “promote prayer for priestly
vocations” and to encourage those who want to become missionaries to
“opt for the Amazon region”.
In October last year,
a synod of 184 bishops met at the Vatican to discuss the future of the Church
in the Amazon. It was argued that older, married men should be allowed to
become priests.
However, they would
need to be men who are particularly well-respected and would preferably come
from the indigenous communities where they intend to work.
It is estimated that
at least 85% of villages in the Amazon are unable to celebrate Mass every week
as a result of a shortage of priests. Some are said to only see a priest once a
year.
Also on Wednesday, the
Pope announced he had decided not to allow women to serve as deacons, a lower
rank than priest.
Separately he called
for the environment in the Amazon to be defended due to its vital role in
mitigating global warming.
It might be convenient
to conclude that Pope Francis’ decision not to accede to the request from
Amazon bishops is a victory for his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and
those traditionalists who regard him as their standard-bearer.
