B.C.'s Catholic community remembers Pope Francis as open-minded 'man of presence'

CBC News

· Posted: Apr 21, 2025 3:58 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

Catholics successful British Columbia and astir the satellite are mourning the decease of Pope Francis.

The Vatican announced that the pontiff died aboriginal Easter Monday astatine the property of 88, much than 2 months aft helium was hospitalized for a respiratory infection.

The Most Reverend  Richard Smith, archbishop-designate of Vancouver, remembered Francis's 2022 sojourn to Canada when helium apologized for the "deplorable" behaviour of immoderate members of the Catholic Church successful Canada's residential schoolhouse system. 

"Pope Francis wore his bosom connected his sleeve, adjacent to the public, adjacent earlier wide audiences," Smith said. "But to spot him unfastened his heart, unfastened his caput to the Indigenous was truly — I deliberation —  an illustration to america all."

The apology drew mixed reaction in B.C. astatine the clip with immoderate saying they wanted him to denounce the Doctrine of Discovery, which gave the Catholic Church's blessing to proselytization and the acquisition of Indigenous lands successful North America. The Catholic Church repudiated the doctrine respective months later.

Matthew Furtado, manager of communications for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, told CBC's The Early Edition big Stephen Quinn that Pope Francis's passing is peculiarly important due to the fact that of his travels astir the world, including his travel to Canada. 

"Pope Francis was specified a antheral of presence, of being with his radical … adjacent to travel to Canada, helium knew however overmuch his carnal beingness present would person healing and interaction connected people," Furtado said.

In a connection posted to X, B.C. Premier David Eby said Pope Francis volition beryllium remembered for his "humanity and humility."

"Our hearts contiguous are with Catholics successful B.C. and astir the satellite arsenic we larn of the passing of Pope Francis."

According to the Vatican, Francis died of a cerebral changeable that enactment him into a coma and led to irreversible bosom failure.

Furtado said the Holy Rosary Cathedral successful downtown Vancouver volition modulation into a authorities of mourning. Some of the ornate decor astatine the religion volition beryllium taken down, helium said, and a photograph of Pope Francis volition beryllium featured prominently, overmuch similar astatine a funeral.

"The archbishop volition connection a wide of mourning and supplication for the Pope," Furtado said Monday. 

Furtado said a remembrance volition beryllium planned astatine the cathedral.

Cardinals from astir the satellite volition caput to Rome to participate successful a conclave to elite the adjacent pope.

LISTEN | Vancouver's Catholilc communit reacts to decease of Pope Francis: