Canada’s bishops were understandably pleased this week when Pope Francis accepted their invitation to visit Canada on a historic pilgrimage of healing and reconciliation. The visit will “build on three years of constructive dialogue between the Canadian bishops, the Holy See, and Indigenous Peoples who have generously shared their experiences and stories about the suffering and challenges that continue to this day,” said a statement from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The announcement followed the Canadian bishops’ apology in September for the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system. It also came after ongoing discussions between the Canadian bishops and the Vatican, with CCCB president Bishop Raymond Poisson and past-president Archbishop Richard Gagnon recently meeting in Rome with the Secretary of State of the Holy See to discuss next steps.
“The Pope was moved by the profound desire of the bishops of Canada and the Indigenous Peoples for him to come to Canada on a pilgrimage of healing and reconciliation,” said the bishops, and it was after that meeting that the Pope accepted the invitation from the Canadian bishops to visit Canada.
Details will be announced as they are confirmed.
In the meantime, planning continues for the Indigenous delegation to the Vatican meeting with the Pope in December when he will hear “directly from Indigenous people on the historic and ongoing legacy of residential schools and discuss with them their hopes for the visit in service of ongoing reconciliation.
The CCCB released the following questions and answers related to the papal visit.
Will the Pope apologize on Canadian soil for the Church’s role in residential school?
The bishops of Canada have been engaged in meaningful discussions with Indigenous Peoples, especially those affected by Residential Schools, who have shared stories of the suffering and challenges that they continue to experience. We pray that Pope Francis’ visit to Canada will be a significant milestone in the journey toward reconciliation and healing.
The last papal visit to Canada was in 2002, when Pope John Paul II attended World Youth Day in Toronto. Pope Francis will visit Canada at an unspecified future date. (CNS photo from Reuters)
In anticipation of this visit, a planned delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders, knowledge keepers and youth will travel to the Holy See in December, where they will have the opportunity to speak to Pope Francis about the timing, focus, and themes in preparation for his future pilgrimage to Canada. This visit will afford Pope Francis with a unique opportunity to hear directly from Indigenous Peoples, to express his heartfelt closeness, and to address the impact of colonization and the participation of the Catholic Church in the operation of the residential schools on behalf of the government, to respond to the suffering of Indigenous Peoples and the historical and ongoing trauma.
We are confident that he will respond to the suffering of Indigenous Peoples of Canada with a genuine response that expresses the Church’s regrets and sorrow.
What is the purpose of the Rome delegation if the Pope has committed to coming to Canada?
A group of Canadian bishops have been in regular conversation with Indigenous leaders – both at the local and national levels, and bilaterally with the First Nations, Métis and Inuit national organizations – to learn and discern with them how best to accompany them on the path to healing, reconciliation and a brighter future.
One of the concrete outcomes of these conversations was for the CCCB to ask Pope Francis to meet with a delegation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit survivors, knowledge keepers, and youth.
The visit to Rome will provide Pope Francis with a unique opportunity to hear directly from Indigenous Peoples, express his heartfelt closeness, address the impact of colonization and the implication of the Church in the residential schools, and to learn about their hopes and desires for his visit to Canada.
When exactly will the Pope be in Canada? Where will he go?
The precise date of Pope Francis’ visit to Canada and the details of his itinerary, as well as additional information on the Rome delegation, will be announced by the CCCB as details are confirmed.
Will the Canadian bishops be paying for this mission?
At this point, we’re still confirming the timing, scope, and themes of Pope Francis’ future visit to Canada. Having said that, there is widespread enthusiasm around the pilgrimage from the Canadian bishops and other members of the Catholic community. Working together, we are confident in our ability to ensure the trip has the necessary funding to be successful.
Will the visit be paid for by the $30 million that the Canadian bishops promised to raise?
No. The Canadian bishops jointly committed this year to raising $30 million to support healing and reconciliation initiatives around the country, determined in consultation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples in each region. Additional updates on the strategy, timeline, and public communication of those collective initiatives will be available this November. Determinations on costs, funding and specific plans for the papal visit will be made separately.