Published 19:10 IST, October 7th 2019
Pope says no difference between Amazonian headgear and Vatican hats
The Pope has denounced offensive words spoken against Amazon's indigenous people, saying that a feather headdress is no more absurd than hats worn by cardinals
On October 7, Pope Francis has denounced offensive words spoken against Amazon's indigenous people, considering that a feather headdress is no more absurd than the hats worn in the Vatican. He made these comments at the opening of an assembly aimed at Amazon's poverty-stricken and isolated indigenous communities that he was pained to hear a sarcastic comment about a religious man with feathers on his head who brought an offering. The Pope also pointed out and asked the difference between having feathers on your head and the three-peaked hat worn by certain officials in the diocese.
Three-week Amazon assembly
The three-week assembly gathers 184 bishops which include 113 from nine countries of the pan-Amazon region, including Brazil. Representatives of indigenous peoples, some with their heads embellished with shaded feathers, are attending the synod, with many assembling at Saint Peter's Square on Monday. Addressing an audience of around 250 people, the Pope publicly denounced offensive words used for indigenous people and rejected deductive ideological colonisations. The working document for the synod, known as the "instrumentum laboris", denounces in scathing terms social injustices and crimes, including murders, and suggests a Church action plan. The document has been condemned by ultra-conservative Roman Catholics but the pope urged Monday on the gathered bishops to feel free to draw their own final document. He called the record "a martyr text destined for destruction" which incited laughter from the audiences before the assembly got down to work.
Pope said he is not afraid of Schism
Vatican Pope Francis on September 10 said that he is not afraid of a schism in Catholic Church, amid criticisms from conservative Catholics. He, however, added that he didn't wish for such a situation to arise. The Holy Pope said so while onboard on the papal plane answering a query of a journalist. The Pope was returning to Rome after his 6-day visit to Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius. During his visit, he focused mainly on three themes at the heart of his papacy: combating poverty, environmental degradation, and political corruption.
(With inputs from agencies)
Updated 22:24 IST, October 7th 2019