Leaders hope Pope extends stay, comes to Winnipeg
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/05/2022 (961 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
INDIGENOUS leaders in Manitoba have faith they can convince the Pope to visit the province after all.
On Friday, Canadians learned the pontiff plans to bypass Manitoba this summer during his trip to Canada.
He plans to acknowledge the wrongs of the Roman Catholic Church for running Indian Residential Schools during stops in Edmonton, Iqaluit and Quebec City in late July.
“On a personal level, I’m hugely disappointed and I’m also disappointed on behalf of the Indigenous people of Manitoba, too,” said Keewatinook MLA and NDP critic for reconciliation, Ian Bushie.
He tabled the motion passed by the Manitoba Legislative Assembly on April 28 to invite the Pope to the province. It passed unanimously.
“I would like to think that because this was so vastly supported, not just within government and our MLAs, but across Manitoba this call to ask the Pope to come here” it would’ve cemented visit from the Pope, Bushie said Friday.
“I think it’s imperative that all of us do our part to advocate,” said Bushie who encouraged Manitobans to take to social media and urge the Pope to come here. “Potentially, it could add one day, perhaps, to the Pope’s visit,” said Bushie.
Government house leader Kelvin Goertzen was more accepting of the Pope bypassing the province.
“We look forward to following the Pope’s visit, along with all Canadians, as he takes this historic step in the reconciliation journey between the Catholic Church and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people,” Goertzen said in a statement.
“I haven’t given up,” said Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand. He met with the Pope at the Vatican last month. He said he understands the pontiff is elderly and frail but thinks there is a chance he could extend his Canadian visit to bless the grave of Louis Riel in Winnipeg.
“I’m a strong believer that you never, never give up.” Chartrand said.
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
After 20 years of reporting on the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home, Carol moved to the legislature bureau in early 2020.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
After 20 years of reporting on the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home, Carol moved to the legislature bureau in early 2020.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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