Covering Pope Francis’s visit to Canada from the papal plane: Reporter’s notebook

On a Thursday afternoon on the finish of July, I discovered myself broiling from the physique warmth of 1000’s of travellers being corralled by airport safety.

I used to be on my option to Rome, assigned to cowl Pope Francis’s six-day journey to Canada.

Little did I do know that the lengthy strains, ready, and uncomfortable warmth skilled on the airport would foreshadow a lot of my week masking his “pilgrimage of penance,” moderately than interviewing residential faculty survivors in regards to the historic moments that occurred.

I acquired media accreditation by the Vatican’s press workplace, and wanted to fly to Rome to board the chartered ITA Airways flight carrying Pope Francis and his entourage to Edmonton, Quebec Metropolis, and Iqaluit. 

Seated behind the airplane have been over 70 journalists from internationally. Among the many handful of journalists working for Canadian media, myself and Rome correspondent Megan Williams have been representing CBC Information. 

For a lot of the journalists on the flight, it was simply one other papal go to — the 103rd papal journey for one reporter I spoke to. However for me, it was an expertise that introduced many combined feelings.

My great-grandmother spent most of her childhood at a Catholic-run residential faculty in Spanish, Ont. 

Although I by no means had the chance to know her, I can see how the shortage of affection and affection she skilled on the establishment was handed down from era to era. The shortcoming to hug each other or say I like you is one thing I’ve felt, and is a direct results of inter-generational trauma.

It was considerably comforting to listen to the same experiences from so many survivors and their households I spoke with main as much as the papal go to, and it is a perspective that the majority different journalists on the flight simply did not have. 

Myself and Brittany Hobson, an Ojibway journalist with the Canadian Press, have been the one Indigenous journalists among the many group. Whereas there have been many extra Indigenous journalists on the bottom at every occasion, I usually felt in the way in which and remoted among the many international press. 

The journalists boarded behind the airplane. Whereas we have been already seated, the Pope was boarded up entrance by ambulift. Between us have been many curtains and safety guards, so I by no means bought a glimpse if he spends his flights napping, watching rom-coms or chatting.

As soon as we have been within the air on our option to Canada, the Pope was escorted to the again of the airplane to offer a short speech. He then walked across the cabin, thanking and greeting every considered one of us.

Whereas it felt surreal to be so near a spiritual chief that’s revered by some Indigenous folks and despised by others, the journey didn’t stay as much as my expectations. 

I used to be dissatisfied that the alternatives to talk with survivors and their households on the bottom in Maskwacis and Lac Ste. Anne, Alta., Quebec Metropolis and Iqaluit have been few and much between for journalists on the papal flight.

We awoke early, have been bused to occasion areas, and sometimes waited round within the sizzling solar (or rain) cordoned off from attendees whereas ready for the Pope to reach. Getting response from Indigenous folks instantly after the occasion was additionally truncated by being corralled again to buses and the airplane for the following occasion by organizers, the Vatican press workplace and a big swath of safety personnel. 

All through the complete journey, journalists solely had one likelihood to ask Pope Francis questions. It was throughout a information convention on the airplane from Iqaluit again to Rome. 

Reporters working for French media shops have been allowed to ask two questions, the Italian press bought two questions, and so forth.

In-flight information convention

Because the host nation, Canadian media additionally bought two questions — and bought to go first. We needed to come to consensus on two questions as a gaggle. It was determined that I would ask about issuing a press release on the doctrine of discovery, because it was on the forefront of many discussions final week, whereas Brittany posed a query about genocide.

I did not anticipate for the Pope to ask me a query, wanting clarification and an instance of how the doctrine of discovery remains to be used at present to dispossess and dis-empower Indigenous folks.

He did not actually reply the query, however he did reply Brittany’s query and mentioned he thought of the residential faculty system a genocide — there was the lead and headline for many of us.

We have been the one journalists to ask questions related to the journey. The international press requested about his well being, the church’s stance on contraceptives, and if he considers himself a Jesuit greater than a Pope.

If neither of us have been there, would that vital second have occurred?

It wasn’t the one time the international press stunned me. I witnessed one journalist doing a stay hit for tv whereas a Wendat elder carried out a ceremony and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon spoke to a small room of dignitaries. It felt disrespectful, as did every time a digital camera operator or photographer made a snide remark when Indigenous journalists bought in the way in which of their shot.

Problematic terminology, a scarcity of trauma-informed reporting, tropes and dangerous stereotypes are all issues which can be nonetheless prevalent in Canadian media but additionally felt taken to a brand new degree with the international press.

Being aware that the papal go to was actually triggering for some survivors, their households and neighborhood members, I attempted to offer some levity to the heavy information protection by sharing photographs of all of the canines I got here throughout in Maskwacis, Lac Ste. Anne, and Iqaluit.

Perhaps I simply missed my very own canine, however assembly happy-go-lucky Fluffy and Daisy in Iqaluit was simply the remedy I wanted to get by the final leg of the tour.

Once I wasn’t in reporter mode making an attempt to file a narrative, I stored pondering of my great-grandmother. Would she have needed to listen to the apology? Would this have introduced her therapeutic?

Whereas I’m glad I bought to witness the Pope name the residential faculty system genocide, it’s bittersweet that residential faculty survivors weren’t there to listen to it.