Pope Francis on Wednesday threw cold water on a proposal to allow the ordination of some married men to become priests in the Amazon region amid a shortage there.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that Bishops in Latin American first put the recommendation forward last year, proposing the ordination of older married deacons with stable families and leadership experience in remote Catholic communities, Reuters reported. While deacons, like priests, are currently able to preach, perform baptisms and run parishes, only priests can say Mass, meaning nearly 90 percent of villages in the region do not have access to weekly liturgy.

Francis did not mention the proposal by name in his Wednesday Apostolic Exhortation, but addressed the priest shortage by urging expanded powers for lay people and permanent deacons, saying the Amazon needs “many more,” and the Vatican must find new incentives for priests to work in the region.