The Pachamama in the Vatican Garden: Integral Ecology, Climate Change, and Conservatism in the Pan-Amazon Synod

ABSTRACT In the encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis proposes Integral Ecology as the moral basis for defending the biosphere in light of capitalist ambition. At the same time, he defines the monogamous and heterosexual family as foundational to nature and life. These conceptions are disputed by the faithful of the Church in Amazonia, a region where religious missions have played a key role since colonial times. We use the Pan-Amazon Synod (2019) to explore the debates/rituals around concepts of life within and around the Church. We follow the concurrences and contradictions between the Pope, conservative clergy, local missions, feminist theologists, and women indigenous leaders demanding political positions from the Church. From an ecofeminist and decolonial perspective, we propose that Integral Ecology, taken as a progressive position regarding environmental issues, ends up being a Trojan Horse that reinforces anti-feminist and pro-life agendas.