Pope Francis visits Canada July 25-29, making stops in Edmonton, Quebec and Iqaluit to address Canada’s devastating legacy. residential system
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Pope Francis greets the faithful outside Sacred Heart Church in Edmonton on July 25, 2022.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters
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Gerald Glade holds a photo of his mother, Jeannie Glade, who was a residential school survivor outside First Peoples Sacred Heart Church in Edmonton. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
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Pope Francis arrives at the Church of the Sacred Heart of the First Peoples to meet with members of the indigenous community in Edmonton.VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
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Pope Francis bows his head during the service.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Spectators wait to see Pope Francis at the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
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Pope Francis speaks to the congregation of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton on July 25, 2022. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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An indigenous drummer sings a song as Pope Francis enters the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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Pope Francis attends a silent prayer at the cemetery during his meeting with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alta.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters
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Sipihko, a Cree woman, cries after finishing singing O Cree Canada to Pope Francis in Maskwacis, Alta. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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A headdress is placed on the head of Pope Francis after his apology for the residential school system in Maskwacis, Alta. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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Indigenous men shout war cries during Pope Francis’ opening ceremonies in Maskwacis, Alta. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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A man cries during Pope Francis’ apology for the damage caused by the residential school system in Maskwacis, Alta. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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Head Willy Littlechild prepares to present Pope Francis with a headdress following the Pope’s apology for the residential school system in Maskwacis. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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Pope Francis meets with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alta.AMBER BRACKEN/Reuters
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People hold a banner with the names of children missing under the residential school system during Pope Francis’ opening ceremonies in Maskwacis, Alta. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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Pope Francis speaks with members of the indigenous community at Muskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alta. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images
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A dancer performs as Pope Francis meets with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alta.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters
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Pope Francis prays at a grave at the Ermineskin Cree Nation cemetery in Maskwacis, Alberta.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alberta.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters
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Indigenous community members await the arrival of Pope Francis at Muskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alberta.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images
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Pope Francis arrives for a silent prayer at the cemetery during his meeting with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alberta.AMBER BRACKEN/Reuters
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Pope Francis prays at a former residential school cemetery in Maskwacis, Alberta. Gregorio Borgia/The Associated Press
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Dennis Lightning offers a smudging ceremony with Buffalo Sage to a member of the indigenous community before the papal visit to Muskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alberta.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images
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The Ermineskin Cemetery during a visit by Pope Francis to Maskwacis, Alberta.VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
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A vehicle used by Pope Francis in Maskwacis, Alberta.IAN WILLMS/The New York Times News Service
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Pope Francis prays with indigenous peoples at a former residential school cemetery in Maskwacis, Alberta. Gregorio Borgia/The Associated Press
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An indigenous dancer arrives for Pope Francis’ visit to Maskwacis, Alberta.TODD KOROL/Reuters
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Indigenous people gather to see Pope Francis on his visit to Maskwacis, Alta. during his papal visit across Canada.Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
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Pope Francis will address indigenous peoples during his visit to Maskwacis, Alberta. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
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Indigenous people gather to see Pope Francis on his visit to Maskwacis, Alberta. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
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The Dummers sing and play during the opening ceremony in Maskwacis before Pope Francis apologizes for the residential school system. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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Thousands of indigenous people gather to see Pope Francis during his visit to Maskwacis, Alberta. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
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Former chiefs hold up eagle totem poles in Maskwacis before Pope Francis apologizes for residential school system. Gavin John/The Globe and Mail
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A view of graves before Pope Francis’ visit to the cemetery in Maskwacis, Alberta.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters
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Wayne Carlick, residential school survivor, cultural coordinator, elder and language speaker of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, poses for a portrait before the papal visit at Muskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alberta.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP /Getty Images
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Teepees are displayed at the former Ermineskin Indian Residential School as Pope Francis continues his papal visit across Canada in Maskwacis, Alberta. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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Members of the indigenous community raise the memorial banner, which was the first national public record of the names of children who did not return home from residential centers across Canada, as Pope Francis meets with indigenous leaders at Muskwa Park in Maskwacis . Alberta. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images
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Here’s what you need to know so far:
- Thousands of residential school survivors and their families have gathered in Maskwacis.
- ‘Sorry. I ask for forgiveness’: Pope Francis asks for forgiveness for abuses in residential centers.
- Pope Francis met with indigenous people and the parish community of the Church of the Sacred Heart of the First Peoples in Edmonton.
8:15 p.m. ET
Pope Francis leaves the Sacred Heart and greets the devotees waiting outside
Pope Francis, while being pushed in a wheelchair, approached the devotees waiting outside the church of the Sacred Heart of the First Peoples. Marek Keyrose, 19, was among those waiting for a glimpse of the Pope. “I got to see the guy who literally made my culture,” said the first-generation Canadian. His family is from Ecuador and he pointed out that the Pope is Argentine. “Oh my God, it was amazing.”
The Pope then got into a vehicle and drove off in a motorcade, waving and smiling at the cheering crowd.
– Carrie Tait
8 pm ET
Pope Francis addresses the Church of the Sacred Heart; receives gifts from children and elders
Pope Francis arrives at the Church of the Sacred Heart of the First Peoples to meet with members of the indigenous community in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on July 25, 2022. VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
At the Sacred Heart, Pope Francis addressed about 200 people in Spanish, reiterating his apologies made hours earlier in Maskwacis. The congregation was largely, though not exclusively, made up of indigenous peoples.
Pope Francis apologizes for residential school abuse: A closer look at the papal apology
Pope Francis’ apology was sincere and historic. But it left us wanting more
“It pains me to think that Catholics contributed to policies of assimilation and emancipation that instilled a sense of inferiority, robbing communities and individuals of their cultural and spiritual identity, cutting off their roots and fostering prejudiced attitudes and discriminatory; and that this was also done in the name of an educational system that was supposedly Christian,” the Holy Father said, according to the English text distributed by the Vatican.
The Pope acknowledged that reconciliation is not easy for those who suffered under the residential school system. “I can only imagine the effort it must be, for those who have suffered so much because of men and women who should have set an example of Christian life, to even think about reconciliation,” he said, according to the english text. “Nothing can ever take away the violation of dignity, the experience of evil, the betrayal of trust. Or take away our own shame, as believers.”
Despite this struggle, the Pope said that “it is necessary to go out again”.
He added: “This is the way to go: look together at Christ, love betrayed and crucified for us; look at Christ, crucified in the many students of the residential centers”.
Pope Francis meets with indigenous people and members of the Sacred Heart parish community in Edmonton, Canada, Monday, July 25, 2022. Gregorio Borgia/The Associated Press
After Pope Francis spoke, the children gave him gifts, including art by Indigenous artist Jason Carter. The elders presented him with a red, yellow and orange star blanket. Traditionally, this would be placed on the receivers shoulders; in this case, it was placed on his lap due to mobility issues. The congregation applauded as he sat on her lap.
Leaning heavily on his staff with his right hand, the Pope stood up and offered a blessing to the newly renovated church. He then returned to his wheelchair at center stage, smiled and waved with both hands.
– Carrie Tait
6:50 p.m. ET
A survivor prepares for the Pope’s visit to the Church of the Sacred Heart
Some Christians believe that a church is entered with the spirit of forgiveness. So it is with Noella Amable, who patiently awaited the arrival of Pope Francis at the Church of the Sacred Heart of the First Peoples in Edmonton on Monday afternoon.
The church, built in 1913 on Treaty 6 territory, is light, airy and decorated with indigenous art after it was damaged by fire two years ago;…