It’s unclear whether the papal visit will spark a similar buzz to that of 1984, as experts say the nature of next week’s apostolic trip is much more political than religious.
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In 1984, Pope John Paul II gathered a crowd of 250,000 people in Quebec City for an open-air mass held at Laval University. It was also the first time that the Holy Father set foot in Quebec.
However, the journey of 2022 takes on a very different aspect and in a context that is just as different.
Not like in 1984
Éric Laliberté, a doctoral student in theology from the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at Laval University, believes that the scenario of a craze similar to that of 1984 is the most plausible, but in a totally different spirit.
Archival photo
Papal visit by John Paul II, in 1984, to Laval University.
“Pope John Paul II was a celebrity. Everyone went there for that. There was Celine Dion singing and the budget was huge at the time. It was $125 million, it seems to me,” says Mr. Laliberté. He was also present for this visit, which he remembers very well.
He points out that at the time, the religious aspect was very important. “Today, the event will generate interest once again,” he continues. But the issue is really more political than religious”.
The fact that the Holy Father admits the fallibility of the Church, in particular by calling this trip a “penitential pilgrimage”, represents more than an apology, in his opinion.
A pope less showman »
While hotels still have a good number of rooms available, it is possible that the 7th wave of contamination and the very hot mercury of the last few weeks will represent a brake for some people.
For his part, Louis Rousseau, professor emeritus in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Quebec in Montreal, is much more reserved in his forecasts on traffic.
“The interest we have for the pope, we will see after the fact,” he drops.
He believes that the numerous road restrictions announced could discourage potential visitors. But he says he is certain that a good number of Aboriginal people will be there at Sainte-Anne.
“This is not a trip that was planned to attract large crowds, given his health [fragile] “, he continues.
He also believes that Pope Francis is less “ showman » than John Paul II. “But at the same time, he can have a simpler, more familiar image, a grandfather side,” concludes Mr. Rousseau.