GlobalNews – Pope Francis has agreed to visit Canada to help ongoing efforts at reconciliation with Indigenous peoples following shocking revelations of the Catholic church’s role in the abuse and deaths of thousands of native children, the Vatican said on Wednesday.
In a brief statement, the Holy See’s press office said that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has invited the pope to make an apostolic journey to Canada “also in the context of the long-standing pastoral process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.” The statement didn’t cite why the reconciliation process was needed.
Pope Francis to visit Canada for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples at bishops’ invitation
Theglobeandmail – Bowing to years of pressure from Indigenous groups and Catholics appalled by the residential schools scandal, Canadian bishops have invited Pope Francis to visit Canada to help in the reconciliation process with the Indigenous peoples.
In a brief statement, the Vatican on Wednesday said that the Pope was invited by the Canadian Conference of Catholics Bishops (CCCB) and that he “has indicated his willingness to visit the country on a date to be settled in due course.”
Vatican officials have always hinted that he was willing to apologize on Canadian soil for the Church’s role in the abuse and deaths of thousands of Indigenous children. But protocol demanded that the CCCB formally invite the pontiff before a trip could happen.
Pope Francis to visit Canada for indigenous reconciliation
BBC – Pope Francis has agreed to visit Canada to assist with ongoing reconciliation efforts with indigenous groups, the Vatican said on Wednesday.
The trip follows disturbing revelations this spring about the indigenous children who died while attending residential schools. The Catholic Church was essential in the schools’ founding and operation. The date of the papal visit has not yet been announced. The Pope has not issued a formal apology for the Church’s role, despite repeated calls by Canadians. In a short statement, the Vatican said that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops had invited the pope to make an apostolic trip to Canada “also in the context of the long-standing pastoral process of reconciliation with indigenous peoples”.
Vatican says Pope Francis has agreed to visit Canada, meet with Indigenous leaders
CBC – A Canadian delegation is scheduled to meet with the Pope at the Vatican in December.
Pope Francis has agreed to visit Canada to help ongoing efforts at reconciliation with Indigenous people following the discovery this summer of hundreds of potential burial sites at former church-run residential schools, the Vatican said on Wednesday.
In a brief statement, the Vatican said the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has invited the Pope to make an apostolic journey to Canada “also in the context of the long-standing pastoral process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.”
The Vatican says Francis has indicated his “willingness” to visit Canada at a date to be determined. Given the time usually required to organize an overseas papal visit, it appeared unlikely such a pilgrimage could happen this year.
