The Canadian Catholic Bishops, the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami are pleased to announce that the trip of the delegation to Rome to meet with Pope Francis, originally scheduled for December 2021, is now scheduled for late March 2022.
The Bishops of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations, the National Council of Métis, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami had decided to postpone the delegation that was to visit the Vatican in December 2021 at the earliest opportunity in 2022. The decision came in light of the recent spread of the Omicron virus both in Canada and around the world The cautious decision was made in December to postpone the delegation out of concern for the safety of all delegates, taking into account the uncertainty regarding travel and the unstable nature of the situation.
In close collaboration with the Vatican, new dates have been confirmed. It is now planned that the Holy Father will meet with the various indigenous delegations during the week of March 28, 2022. A final audience with all participants will take place on April 1, 2022.
The health and safety of all delegates remain our priority. In the weeks leading up to travel, we will monitor the health situation and continue to engage with delegates, public health officials, and relevant government and international authorities, to travel only if we believe it is safe to do so. To do.
We remain committed to moving forward on the path of healing and reconciliation and look forward to the opportunity for Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Residential School Survivors, and youth to meet Pope Francis.
Pope Francis is fully committed to hearing directly from Indigenous peoples, to express his sincere closeness, to address the impact of colonization and the role the Church played in the residential school system, in response to suffering indigenous peoples and the ongoing intergenerational trauma, according to a statement by the Canadian Bishops released June 29, 2021. The Bishops of Canada said they are deeply grateful to the Holy Father for his spirit of openness by generously issuing an invitation for personal meetings with each of the three distinct groups of delegates, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, as well as a final audience with all of them. the delegates meeting on December 20, 2021.
This pastoral visit will include the participation of a diverse group of elders / ‘knowledge keepers’, residential school survivors, and youth from across the country, accompanied by a small group of bishops and Indigenous leaders. Planning for the delegation is underway and further details will be announced as they become available.
