Pope Francis to make 3 Canadian stops in July to meet residential school survivors, sources say

Pope Francis is expected to visit at least three cities during a late July trip to Canada, CBC News has learned.

Sources involved in the planning of the trip say the Pope will likely make stops in Edmonton, Quebec City and Iqaluit during what is scheduled to be about a four-day trip to the country. CBC News is not identifying the confidential sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The pontiff initially announced plans for the visit during his Vatican meetings on April 1 with Indigenous delegates from Canada, where he offered an initial apology for the actions of individual Roman Catholic Church members in Canada's residential schools.

Sources say the trip with the three planned stops — which will be funded by the Canadian Catholic Church, with possible federal dollars — was in discussion before the Vatican meetings.

The delegates who travelled to Rome expect Pope Francis to deliver a fulsome apology on Canadian soil for the church's role in running residential schools, which would fulfil a key call from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Métis National Council president Cassidy Caron said Vatican advance teams have already scouted Iqaluit, Quebec City and Edmonton in preparation for the trip.

Caron said her organization has also been discussing the planned papal visit through a committee created by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"We hope that the Pope will come to Canada," Caron said.

"He will apologize, deliver, hopefully, somewhat of a stronger apology ... that goes a little bit further and recognizes and acknowledges the Catholic Church's role in residential schools. Not just those individuals."

If the Pope goes to Edmonton, Caron said she hopes he will also take the opportunity to visit ​the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage grounds, designated a national historic site of Canada, 78 kilometres to the northwest.

"It is a special site," she said. "A spiritual site, a healing site for Métis people."

In Rome, Pope Francis said he wanted to attend the annual pilgrimage to Lac Ste. Anne, which takes place from July 25 to 28 this year.

"This year, I would like to be with you on those days," Pope Francis said in Italian on April 1, during his final remarks to Indigenous delegates.

The Pope's planned day trip to Iqaluit follows an invitation by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) president Natan Obed, who was asked by Inuit leaders to advocate for a papal visit to Nunavut's capital.