This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and I take a look at who has been invited to the synod on the Amazon region.

Join us as America and American Bible Society host H.E. Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, for an evening discussion on the vision of Pope Francis and the present state and future of the American Catholic Church. 

The pope said that the nations of the world have a duty to fight against climate change, adding that despite a weak response so far, a “window of opportunity is still open.”

But the Pan-Amazon Synod’s organizers say much of the unhappiness with the its working document simply reflects Eurocentricism. Many critics “have little knowledge of the Amazon and in some cases have no commitment to its people.”

The first Latino pope and Hispanic Heritage Month

In all three countries, Pope Francis pleaded for protection of the environment. Mining by foreign companies to extract precious minerals has been a major problem in Madagascar and Mozambique. In Madagascar, deforestation is especially a threat.