Tens of thousands of people are expected at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Tuesday to attend a public mass with Pope Francis.
The head of the Catholic Church is expected to address Indigenous groups, residential and day school survivors, elders, knowledge keepers and Catholics during the Mass which is expected to last approximately one hour.
Organizers say the event takes place on the feast day of St. Anne who was Jesus’ grandmother and is a day of special reverence for native Catholics.
Later in the day, the pontiff is expected to travel to Lac Sainte-Anne, northwest of Edmonton, to take part in the community’s annual pilgrimage, which regularly welcomes tens of thousands of indigenous participants.
The Pope’s second full day of events comes after he on Monday apologized to residential school survivors and their families for the role the Roman Catholic Church has played in the cultural destruction and forced assimilation of Indigenous peoples. .
Speaking at an event in the community of Maskwacis, south of Edmonton, Francis said, “In the face of this deplorable evil, the church kneels before God and asks forgiveness for the sins of her children. I humbly ask forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against indigenous peoples,” Francis said through an interpreter.
Survivor Evelyn Korkmaz took note of the apology, but said she wants the Vatican to hand over documents it has regarding the identities of the students who were taken to the institutions. “This would allow families [et] loved ones to heal and move on,” she said.
Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation Leader Tony Alexis said the apology opened wounds that couldn’t stay open. “You can’t just say I’m sorry and leave. It is necessary to make efforts. There must be work and more meaningful actions. »
The pontiff said asking for forgiveness is the first step and that there must be a serious investigation into what happened. He also called the overall effects of residential school policies “catastrophic.”
Later in the week, Francis will travel to Quebec City for meetings with representatives of Aboriginal peoples and the clergy of Quebec and to animate another mass, this time at the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré basilica. He will then go to Iqaluit to end his stay in Canada.