Pope Francis coming to Canada, but will not be stopping in Kamloops
Posted May 13, 2022 3:09 am.
Last Updated May 13, 2022 2:05 pm.
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The Vatican says Pope Francis will be visiting Canada this summer, with stops planned in Alberta, Quebec, and Nunavut.
It says the capital cities of Edmonton, Quebec City, and Iqaluit will act as bases for the trip from July 24 to 29. While his whole itinerary has not yet been released, the Pope is expected to meet with Indigenous leaders.
The visit comes after Pope Francis’s historic apology last month for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in Residential Schools in Canada.
However, the Pope is not set to visit Kamloops during his trip, which will come nearly 14 months after the discovery of 215 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
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The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation made the discovery using ground-penetrating radar and announced preliminary information on May 27, 2021.
The Nation’s chief says word that her community and other neighbouring ones weren’t on initial itinerary plans was disappointing.
“I’m still holding onto a hair of hope that maybe he will change his mind, I’m not too sure. But … in British Columbia alone, there are 204 First Nation communities … that have been impacted by the Residential School that was run by the Roman Catholic Church,” said Kúkpi7 Roseanne Casimir Friday.
Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc invitation hand-delivered to Pope
Casimir hand-delivered an invitation to Pope Francis at the Vatican last month.
She says the invitation was for the Pope to come and meet with survivors and intergenerational survivors of the Residential School system.
“I had given it to him with an eagle feather that was beaded, that came from our language and culture department. And I put on the other side of it the invitation. We had a picture that was taken, with me opening it and giving it to him in his hands and he acknowledged it, shaking his head,” she explained, adding she made the invitation clear.
Personally, Casimir feels it would be “a missed opportunity” for the Pope not to meet with First Nations directly affected by the recent discoveries.
“It’s been re-traumatizing for our intergenerational survivors and our survivors, and most importantly, this is something that has shaken the world. It’s shaken myself, as a mother, a grandmother. And for myself, my hope was that he at least takes that opportunity to meet with the First Nation community directly impacted,” Casimir told CityNews, adding there’s an opportunity for the Pope to “see first-hand the impacts of the role of the Roman Catholic Church.”
Casimir plans to follow up.
“Truly walking together toward healing really is something that we can only do together,” Casimir said.
“But I think knowing that here, in British Columbia, TTS’ Residential School is the largest across Canada run by the Roman Catholics. It also impacts so many First Nations in British Columbia. So my hope is that they do consider this part of Canada and think about all those who have been impacted in the west, and the significance and importance of truly moving together, walking together, and walking that path and journey towards healing is something that can only be done, I think, if he had that opportunity to meet with a First Nation that’s been directly impacted,” she said, noting that could be any of the many across Canada that have discovered unmarked graves over the years.
The Pope’s visit will also not include a stop in Williams Lake, where another investigation is underway into the site of the former St. Josephs Mission Residential School.
A ceremony to commence the ground investigation of the lands surrounding the site of the former St. Joseph’s Mission (SJM) Residential School was conducted on Monday, August 30th. (Courtesy: Williams Lake First Nation)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says apologizing in person is an important step for the Roman Catholic Church, as well as to respond to Call to Action #58 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
“I welcome the news of His Holiness Pope Francis’ visit to Canada this summer to formally deliver the Roman Catholic Church’s apology for its role in operating residential schools that caused lasting pain and suffering to Indigenous Peoples in this country,” Trudeau said in a statement Friday.
The Vatican chose the locations with the Pope’s health issues and mobility taken into consideration. The 85-year-old Francis has been limited by a nagging knee problem and appeared in public in a wheelchair for the first time last week.
Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton will act as a general coordinator for the visit, and says it will be another important step for healing and reconciliation.
“I am humbled to serve as general coordinator for this historic visit from Pope Francis,” said Smith.
“I look forward to working with Indigenous Peoples from across this land, as well as local, provincial and federal partners, as we prepare to welcome the holy father and continue to walk together on this important healing and reconciliation journey.”
Smith accompanied Indigenous delegates on a trip to the Vatican earlier this year. Francis first announced his intention to visit Canada during the meeting with the delegation on April 1.
“I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sorry,” he said at the time.
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The Indigenous groups involved in the delegation also requested the church provide reparations to support healing, return Indigenous artifacts and share any documents about residential schools.
With files from The Canadian Press
