Pope travels to Canada to bring his excuses

Pope Francis, who is still physically weakened, will land in Edmonton at 11: 20 a.m. local time. There he is received by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

With a flight of more than ten hours, it is the longest journey the pope has undertaken since 2019. It will be his 37th trip since taking office in 2013. From 24 to 30 July, he will visit the cities of Edmonton, Quebec and Iqaluit. The visit offers him the opportunity to listen to and speak with the indigenous peoples of Canada. He will have the opportunity to denounce the horrific treatment of Indigenous children in Catholic boarding schools, writes The Canadian bishops ‘ conference (CCCB) on a website dedicated to the visit.

An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children stayed, often forced, in the boarding schools. The schools worked as re-education centers, with the aim of forcing the Indigenous children into the straitjacket of white, Christian values. The Indigenous children were no longer allowed to speak their mother tongue, lived in complete isolation from their family and their culture, and were victims of physical abuse and sexual abuse.

Pope Francis has been struggling with his health for some time. The pope was first seen in a wheelchair at a public event in early May. He also suffers from hip pain that makes him limp and he underwent delicate bowel surgery in July 2021. He has already postponed trips to Lebanon, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.