Pope Francis plans to meet with the indigenous peoples of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit this Monday during his trip to Canada. The 85-year-old is expected tomorrow morning (local time) in Maskwacis, 100 kilometers south of Edmonton, in a parish. Francis is expected to ask representatives of indigenous groups for forgiveness for violence against indigenous people in boarding schools once run by the Catholic Church.
In the afternoon (local time) another meeting with indigenous peoples in Edmonton is on the agenda. Meeting the natives is the central part of Francis’ six-day journey. In the background are finds of deceased children near boarding schools that were once run by the Catholic Church. The discovery exposed the horrific past of indigenous children, who were taken from their families and abused by school officials. Indigenous people demand that Francis in Canada ask for forgiveness.
Anonymous graves of children discovered
The beatings took place in state and church institutions for decades. Children died as a result of disease, starvation or in connection with abuse. The cases received international attention when experts discovered anonymous graves of dead children near a boarding school just over a year ago.
In Canada’s indigenous peoples, relatives have long suspected the fate of their relatives in these institutions. The children, some of whom were torn from their families, would learn Western culture there. The debate over the treatment of Aboriginal children has been going on in Canada for years. The church has been criticized for not providing adequate compensation for survivors.
No to an apology
Before his departure, Pope Francis announced that as a penitent he would come to the second largest country in the world, with a population of about 38 million. On the flight to Edmonton on Sunday, he told you to “be careful” on this trip. On the way from the airport, a few people stood on the side of the road waiting for the Pope to drive by. But there was also a banner on a bridge that read ‘No to Apology’.
Edmonton, the capital of the Alberta province of approximately one million inhabitants, is also home to a large Ukrainian diaspora. However, it is not officially known whether Francis, who recently said he plans to travel to the Ukrainian capital Kiev, will meet with community representatives.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
