Bells across Rome tolled this morning shortly after the announcement of the passing of Pope Francis. He was last seen on Easter Sunday blessing the faithful from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis was also seen driving in an open car through the crowd that had assembled in St. Peter’s Square.

In July 2022 Pope Francis arrived in Edmonton for what he described as a “penitential pilgrimage” to address the impact of colonization and the participation of the Catholic Church in the operation of residential schools throughout Canada.

In March and April, more than 30 Indigenous delegates representing First Nations, Metis and Inuit Elders, Knowledge Keepers, survivors of residential schools and youth spent a week in Rome, meeting privately with Pope Francis to discuss the historical and ongoing intergenerational trauma that continues to impact Indigenous Peoples. A public apology was issued April 1st, 2022.