Pope arrives in Canada for ‘penitential’ visit aimed at Indigenous reconciliation

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EDMONTON — Pope Francis arrived in Canada on Sunday to an honour drum music forward of what he describes as a “penitential” journey geared toward reconciliation with Indigenous individuals for the Catholic Church’s position in residential colleges.

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The drum group from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation sang in entrance of Francis as he sat between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at an airport hangar in Edmonton.

The Pope advised reporters on the airplane earlier than it landed that the six-day go to have to be dealt with with care.

The pontiff can also be set to journey to Quebec Metropolis and Iqaluit.

“I hope, with God’s grace, that my penitential pilgrimage may contribute to the journey of reconciliation already undertaken. Please accompany me with #prayer,” stated a message on the Pope’s Twitter account.

An elevator was used to get the Pope off the airplane, and he went for a brief experience in a Fiat to the hangar. He then received right into a wheelchair and was taken to a crimson carpet for the official welcome ceremony.

Treaty 6 Grand Chief George Arcand Jr. gave the Pope a beaded medallion and was handed an unknown merchandise in return.

Francis kissed the hand of residential college survivor Alma Desjarlais of the Frog Lake First Nation as she welcomed the Pope together with Grand Chief Greg Desjarlais of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations.

Francis was additionally greeted by different church, Indigenous and political dignitaries.

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He was then set to be pushed to the St. Joseph Seminary, the place he can be staying through the Alberta portion of the journey.

The Pope plans to go to the previous Ermineskin Indian Residential College in the neighborhood of Maskwacis, south of Edmonton, on Monday. That’s the place Francis is to ship his first public assertion in Canada and is predicted to apologize to Indigenous Peoples for abuses they’ve suffered.

An estimated 150,000 Indigenous youngsters had been pressured to attend residential colleges in Canada, the place neglect and bodily and sexual abuse had been rampant. Greater than 60 per cent of the faculties had been run by the Catholic Church.

Arcand Jr. stated final week that survivors have been carrying unimaginable trauma for a lot of generations. The Pope’s acknowledgment of their ache is an important step, he stated.

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“This is a crucial historic second for survivors of the residential college system and the hurt attributable to the Catholic Church,” Arcand Jr. stated.

On April 1, after conferences over a number of days with First Nations, Inuit and Metis teams on the Vatican, Francis apologized for the deplorable conduct of church members concerned in residential colleges and promised to go to Canada.

Indigenous delegates had advised the Pope they needed an apology on Canadian soil.

First Nations leaders in Alberta stated they count on the Pope’s presence to open outdated wounds for Indigenous individuals and psychological well being counsellors can be on the websites. However additionally they hope the go to can be a step towards reconciliation.

“We’re right here with you and we’re supporting you,” Louis Bull Tribe Chief Desmond Bull advised survivors final week.

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The Ermineskin college was one of many largest of the establishments in Canada. Organizers of the papal go to have stated they count on about 15,000 individuals can be at Maskwacis to see the 85-year-old pontiff.

Later Monday, Francis is to satisfy parishioners of an inner-city church in Edmonton. A big outside mass on the metropolis’s soccer stadium is scheduled for Tuesday. The Pope then heads to close by Lac Ste. Anne to participate in an annual pilgrimage.

Francis is to journey Wednesday to Quebec Metropolis and ship a public tackle following conferences with Trudeau and Simon. The next day one other giant mass is scheduled in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre.

The go to is ready to complete Friday in Iqaluit earlier than Francis heads again to the Vatican.

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Organizers have stated that as a result of Pope’s age and bodily limitations he’ll participate in public occasions for about an hour and can use a wheelchair all through the tour.

Shortly after departing from Rome, the Pope used a cane to assist him transfer across the airplane as he greeted particular person reporters.

“I imagine I could make it,” he joked.

1000’s have travelled from totally different elements of the nation to participate within the occasions.

Mabel Brown, a 77-year-old residential college survivor, journeyed to Edmonton from Inuvik to listen to the Pope apologize and discover forgiveness and therapeutic with different survivors. She hopes it’s a chance to maneuver ahead in a great way.

“This can be a crucial time in historical past,” she stated. “Higher issues are but to return.”

The Indian Residential Faculties Decision Well being Assist Program has a hotline to assist residential college survivors and their relations struggling trauma invoked by the recall of previous abuse. The quantity is 1-866-925-4419.