Catholic bishops gathered at a special Vatican assembly called on
Pope Francis Saturday to open the priesthood to married men in the
Amazon, as well as giving women a greater role to play and making damaging the environment a sin.
The bishops issued a list of recommendations at the close of a three-week "synod" on the Pan-Amazonian region which highlighted challenges such as the destruction of the rainforest, the exploitation of indigenous peoples and a scarcity in priests.
The text could have repercussions not only for the vast, isolated territory, but the whole of the Roman Catholic Church.