The W.C.C. general secretary described Francis’ visit as “a strong signal of recognition by the Catholic world.”

The document outlines the church’s need to listen to young people, to help guide them in the faith and to identify pastoral paths to accompany them.

Pope Francis and Vatican diplomats have followed with growing concern the grave tensions and even threats of nuclear attacks that have been exchanged between the United States and North Korea.

Pope Francis said the challenge is “to find ways of ensuring the immense supply of energy required to meet the needs of all, while developing means of using natural resources that avoid creating environmental imbalances.”

The preparatory document for the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazonian Region invites input from the local churches in the nine countries of the Amazonian region.

The pope’s encounter with the priest-victims marked the end of “the listening phase” and the beginning of actions that need to be taken.