Vatican (AP) – Pope Francis, who uses a wheelchair because of knee pain, plans to travel to Canada this summer to personally apologize for indigenous insults to the Catholic Church. .
The Vatican announced on Friday that Francis will travel to Canada on July 24 and visit Edmonton, Quebec and Icaluate, a small city in the far north of the country. Almost half of Iqaluit’s population is Inuit. The Pope left Canada on July 29, arriving in Rome the next day.
Last month, Francis historically apologized for insulting church-run residential schools in Canada and expressed “pain and shame” for his lack of respect for indigenous identities, culture and spiritual values. value.
He said he wanted to go to Canada to personally apologize to the survivors of the Catholic missionary’s false zeal.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis would “accept the invitation of civil and church authorities and indigenous communities” to do what the Holy See calls “the journey of the apostles”.
The Vatican said details of the trip to Canada would be known in the coming weeks. Bishops in Canada said the pope would visit the area of the school’s former residence, as well as “other places of particular importance”.
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, said Francis had come to “formally apologize to the Roman Catholic Church for its role in the functioning of the shelters, which has caused great pain and suffering to the people of this country. “.
“The next visit of His Holiness would not have been possible without the courage and diligence of the survivors, indigenous leaders and youth who shared their stories,” the prime minister said in a written statement.
Trudeau said the personal and formal apology would be “an important and necessary step for the Roman Catholic Church to continue its dialogue with the first nations, the Inuit and the Metes, to advance the important reconciliation of the indigenous peoples. in our country.” country. “
“For a long time, this burden was borne only by the indigenous people. “I encourage all Canadians to look at this historic moment and reflect on the impact of colonialism,” Trudeau said of the Pope’s upcoming visit.
On April 1, when indigenous delegates went to the Vatican for a personal meeting with Francis, the Pontiff expressed “pain and shame” for insulting and respecting indigenous identities, culture and spiritual values. in the residential school system.
Travel to Canada was limited geographically due to the Pope’s health problems.
Given Canada’s vast landscape, limited visiting hours and the 85-year-old pope’s health, only three communities will be the basis of the trip, according to a statement from the Canadian Catholic Bishops ’Conference. .
“The venues will limit the travel of the Holy Father and at the same time will provide an opportunity for intimate and public meetings with the participation of all regions of the country”, read the note.
Traveling in Canada, 85-year-old Francis evaluates his endurance. After the Vatican said knee -length yogis had become strict, a few weeks later, Francis began speaking in a wheelchair, although he stopped at the window of the Apostolic Palace on Sunday to greet pilgrims and pilgrims. St. Peter’s Square.
Although the Vatican confirmed the trip, Francis was in a wheelchair at a public display in a Vatican auditorium. He remained in a wheelchair for the entire audience, where he again condemned the war in Ukraine.
The announcement of the trip was also accepted by the bishops of Canada.
“We are extremely grateful that the Pope has accepted our invitation to continue the path of healing and reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of this land,” said Bishop Raymond Poisson, President of the Bishops ’Conference of Canada.
Poisson added: “Let us pray for the health of the Pope as we carry out intense planning for this historic visit.”
Even before going to Canada, Francis will face another mobility challenge. In early July, he plans to travel to Congo and South Sudan, a trip he hopes will help reconcile.
Recently, Lebanese authorities announced that the Pope’s planned visit in June will not take place.
Edmonton is home to the second largest indigenous people living in Canada’s urban centers. Referring to the sad legacy of violence, the conference noted that “in addition, 25 residential schools are located in Alberta, most in any Canadian province or territory.”
At the Pope’s meetings with Vatican resident delegates, Inuit delegates to the northern region of Canada were invited.
The bishops said the stop in Quebec was the center of eastern Canadian natives who wanted to see the Pope.
Source: Huffpost
