Catholic leaders in Edmonton reflect on legacy of Pope Francis

Wallis Snowdon · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 21, 2025 10:48 AM EDT | Last Updated: 12 minutes ago

Catholic leaders successful Edmonton are reflecting connected the bequest of Pope Francis, a progressive pontiff who made an indelible people connected the faithful successful Alberta. 

Francis died Monday astatine the Vatican astatine the property of 88.

His decease triggered an outpouring of memories of his historical sojourn to Alberta successful the summertime of 2022, which included a long-awaited apology for the behaviour of immoderate members of the Roman Catholic Church successful Canada's residential schoolhouse strategy and the colonization of Indigenous peoples.

In a connection Monday, officials with the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton said Francis led with "openness, receptivity, sensitivity." 

'Heart connected his sleeve'

In a statement, Archbishop Richard Smith, present the Archbishop-elect of Vancouver, said Francis volition beryllium remembered arsenic a pontiff who led with kindness and gave his beingness to God.

Smith recalled accompanying a delegation of Indigenous representatives from Canada that went to Rome successful March 2022 to conscionable with Francis earlier his travel to Canada. 

Four months later, Francis began what helium described astatine the clip arsenic a "penitential pilgrimage" aimed astatine advancing reconciliation with Indigenous radical implicit the lasting harm suffered successful residential schools.

WATCH | Historic apology from Pope Francis unfolds successful Alberta: 

Francis made the travel adjacent though helium was successful "constant pain" passim the visit, Smith said.

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

"It was a peculiar illustration to maine arsenic a bishop arsenic to however we spell guardant successful the Church successful opening our hearts to those successful need, those who are hurting successful immoderate way, those who are suffering  and find caller ways — suited to their concern — that they tin perceive the Gospel and find anticipation successful it. As to legacy, I deliberation volition beryllium remembered for that supra all." 

A 'penitential pilgrimage'

Francis visited Canada successful July 2022, visiting Edmonton, attending the yearly pilgrimage astatine Lac Ste. Anne, past heading disconnected to Quebec City and Iqaluit.

Days aft arriving to the dependable of accepted drums astatine the Edmonton airport, Francis travelled to the erstwhile Ermineskin Indian Residential School successful the assemblage of Maskwacis, southbound of Edmonton, and made an apology survivors. 

In a greeting lawsuit successful a First Nation assemblage successful cardinal Alberta, Francis said helium was atrocious and ashamed for abuses committed by immoderate members of the Catholic Church, arsenic good arsenic for the taste demolition and forced assimilation that culminated successful the schools.

To applause from those gathered, the Pope repeatedly begged forgiveness for actions of the past, supported by galore members of the Church, which created the "disastrous error" and "deplorable evil" of residential schools.

The Canadian sojourn besides included a beatified wide astatine Commonwealth Stadium successful Edmonton. Francis blessed and kissed babies and young children handed to him arsenic helium was driven astir the shot field.

At a ineffable pilgrimage tract successful Lac Ste. Anne, Francis took portion successful a religion service, wearing a reddish Métis sash astir his neck.

His travel to Alberta besides included a sojourn to Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples successful downtown Edmonton, wherever Francis — flanked by teepee poles astatine the beforehand of the cathedral — spoke to respective 100 Indigenous leaders, parish members and others.

After hymns were sung, Francis delivered a a homily-style code and spoke astir the meaning of reconciliation.

He said it pained him to cognize that Catholics contributed to policies of assimilation that robbed radical of their civilization and identity. 

"In the sanction of Jesus, whitethorn this ne'er hap again successful the church," helium said.

WATCH | Pope Francis apologizes for abuses astatine residential schools: