In a message to all Canadians, Pope Francis said today that next Sunday, July 24, he would set out “within the name of Jesus” on “a penitential pilgrimage” to “meet and embrace the Indigenous peoples” of that land.
After reciting the Angelus with 1000’s of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, July 17, the pope said: “Next Sunday, God willing, I’ll leave for Canada.”
Then addressing “all of the inhabitants of Canada,” he said, “Dear brothers and sisters of Canada, as you understand, I’ll come amongst you above all within the name of Jesus to fulfill and embrace the Indigenous peoples.”
He’ll meet them in several places: Maskwacis (60 miles from Edmonton), Edmonton city, Lac Ste. Anne, the national shrine of St. Anne de Beupré, Quebec city and Iqaluit.
Then, referring to the church’s role and the residential schools that it managed from the Eighteen Eighties, Pope Francis recalled that “sadly, in Canada, many Christians, including some members of non secular institutes, contributed to the policies of cultural assimilation, which, prior to now, had severely harmed the native communities in various ways.”
“I’m about to embark on a penitential pilgrimage, which, I hope, with the grace of God, can contribute to the journey of healing and reconciliation that has already begun.”
Because of this, he said, “I recently received within the Vatican some groups, representatives of the Indigenous peoples, to whom I manifested my sorrow and my solidarity for the harm they’ve suffered.” The pope met with representatives of the Métis and Inuit Indigenous peoples at the top of March and spoke to all of the delegations of the First Nations in a gathering on April 1 wherein he asked their forgiveness for the wrongs done to them at church-run schools.
He then promised to go to them of their home territories as a part of a technique of healing and reconciliation. Today, he told the people of Canada, “I’m about to embark on a penitential pilgrimage, which, I hope, with the grace of God, can contribute to the journey of healing and reconciliation that has already begun.”
He thanked the Canadians “for all of the work of preparation” that they’ve done and are doing for his visit “and for the welcome you could have in store for me.”
He concluded by asking them “to accompany me with prayer.”
Ukraine
Before addressing the Canadians, Pope Francis again turned his attention to the war in Ukraine, now in its 144th day, each of which has brought death, destruction and the displacement of Ukrainians because the Russians proceed their effort to achieve control of the entire southern region of the Donbas region.
“How can one fail to grasp that war only creates destruction and death, driving peoples apart, killing truth and dialogue?”
Francis, who has spoken out greater than 70 times against the war because it began on Feb. 24, today again said: “I’m at all times near the martyred Ukrainian population, struck on daily basis by a hail of missiles. How can one fail to grasp that war only creates destruction and death, driving peoples apart, killing truth and dialogue?”
He concluded, “I pray and hope that each one the international actors will truly work to resume negotiations, to not fuel the senselessness of war.”
He has announced that he intends to go to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, after the visit to Canada. Vatican sources say the visit to Kyiv could happen in August or September if the Canadian visit confirms that he’s physically capable of make such a visit.
Sri Lanka
Last Sunday, Pope Francis expressed his concern on the political and social crisis in Sri Lanka because the country’s president fled the country following largely peaceful protests and later resigned. Today, the pope again expressed his closeness to the people of Sri Lanka and invited pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square to wish for them.
He appealed for a peaceful solution to the crisis and said, “I urge all parties to hunt a peaceful solution to the current crisis, favoring, particularly, the poorest and respecting the rights of all.” He added, “I join the religious leaders in imploring everyone to refrain from all types of violence and to initiate a technique of dialogue for the common good.”
