Pope Francis could visit Canada within a year, Indigenous delegates in Rome say
Global News
The Indigenous delegation was at the Vatican for a meeting with the Pope, where they urged him to travel to Canada to apologize for the church’s role in residential schools.
Pope Francis could be visiting Canada within the next year, according to Indigenous delegates who are in Rome this week.
The delegation of 14 Indigenous survivors, elders, leaders, youth and knowledge keepers was at the Vatican for a meeting with the Pontiff on Thursday. They urged him to travel to Canada to apologize for the church’s role in residential schools.
“We heard the Holy Father say to us very clearly, the church is with you. And that’s an incredibly important statement, because the next thing we will hear is ‘I am sorry,'” said Phil Fontaine, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations and a residential school survivor.
“I’m also convinced that this very important moment in the lives of our people will take place on Canadian soil.”
This visit is expected to happen “very soon,” possibly even “before winter,” Fontaine added, citing Archbishop Richard Gagnon, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).
“Before winter, of course, comes the fall and the summer. I’m convinced it’ll be the summer, and so that that makes me extremely happy,” Fontaine said.
However, the timeline delegates shared for the potential Papal visit wasn’t firm. While Fontaine said he expected the trip to take place within months, another delegate said she heard it will be in 2023.
“We wish to express our gratitude for His Holiness Pope Francis’ commitment to visiting Canada in the New Year,” said Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty of the of Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee.