P.E.I. Catholics mourn the passing of Pope Francis
CBC
Catholics across Prince Edward Island are mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away early Monday morning at the age of 88.
In recent months, the Pope had been battling health issues. He spent five weeks in the hospital beginning in February after a bout of bronchitis developed into pneumonia.
"We knew that his death was imminent, and yet it was a shock when Monday, we woke up and learned that the Pope passed away," said Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown Joseph Dabrowski.
"Now we need to pray for his soul and be united in prayer with the Catholic Church and reflect with spirit of gratitude, thanksgiving for his work and ministry and his pastoral great care."
Dabrowski said he had the personal privilege of meeting the Pope on four different occasions.
"Each encounter I met with remains close to my heart, and I experienced his genuine pastoral care, warmth, simplicity and joy rooted in the gospel, so beautiful moments," the bishop said.
"In 2015, he was the one who called me to episcopate and I will forever be grateful for that."
As Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown, Dabrowski will soon pen a letter to Catholics on the Island through this time of mourning.
In it, he plans to reflect on Pope Francis's 12-year papacy committed to empathy and care for the poor and marginalized.
"Pope Francis showed us what it means to love God with our hearts and soul and mind. He served the Catholic faith faithfully," Dabrowski said.
"He was known for his great humility, his trust in God's mercy, care for the poor, and his desire for peace and dialogue with our people. He encouraged the Church to listen, walk together and care for one another in our creation."
Dabrowski also highlighted the Pope's historic visit to Canada in 2022, where he undertook what he called a six-day "pilgrimage of penance" in Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut, walking alongside Indigenous peoples on a path of healing and reconciliation.
The Pope also weighed in on various global issues, including calling on world leaders for an urgent response to the climate crisis, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and urging for peace in Ukraine.
"Globally, he inspired millions through his humility, simplicity and the courage to speak prophetically on issues that matter," Dabrowski said.
Black History Month starts Feb. 1, a time used to honour the contributions, heritage and legacy of Black people in Canada.
A blast of Arctic air is pushing the temperatures even further down across southwestern Ontario on Friday — including in Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton.
Daniel Cruz was browsing displays of trading cards in Calgary’s ShoeBox Games & Cafe last October when he saw two people walk in, both dressed in black and sporting skull face paint — not an unusual sight on Halloween.
More Albertans are waiting longer than clinically recommended for critical cardiac and cancer surgeries, sparking concern among health experts and calls for urgent action.
There have been four collisions involving transport trucks in northwestern Ontario in three days, prompting renewed calls for action to address ongoing safety concerns along Highway 11-17.
Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives will huddle behind closed doors at a policy convention this weekend as some Tories question the party’s direction after nearly eight years in power.
The father of a three-year-old girl that was killed after being struck by a vehicle in Cambridge in mid-December says recent charges laid to the driver bring little comfort and relief.
The start of kindergarten can be a time of excitement or anxiety for parents, guardians and children — and also for Prince Edward Island's education officials as they try to staff schools appropriately.
Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation (NNC)’s proposed hydro project is facing some backlash in Pangnirtung.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will take to the stage Friday for what could be one of the most important speeches of his political career as he tries to convince delegates at the party's Calgary convention to keep him in the job.
As his flight departed from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport en route to Kuwait via Istanbul, Canadian crypto fugitive Andean Medjedovic was unaware that his globe-trotting lifestyle would soon be halted.
One of the largest taxi companies in Toronto will be down to three wheelchair-accessible cabs by the end of March, as advocates and providers say the city is failing to support accessible taxi drivers.
As a deep freeze continues to envelop southwestern Ontario at the same time municipalities deal with a pressing shortage of road salt, there's a renewed focus on finding different ways to melt road ice.