One year after the historic papal visit to Canada, positive signs abound.

Though Ontario was not one of the stops on the Pope’s recent visit to Canada, a furniture company from just outside Toronto gave the province a seat at the historic table. 

The Pope’s visit to Canada and apology to Indigenous peoples was a profound occasion for our country. His visit also raises important questions about the proper relationship between political and religious institutions. 

The unity of the Catholic Church's bishops is fundamental in correcting past wrongs and in confronting challenges today, Pope Francis said.

Whether Pope Francis proves correct that the Indian residential school system constituted “genocide,” he erred three times during the concluding media conference for his otherwise near-flawless penitential pilgrimage across Canada.

Standing out from the final day of Pope Francis’ penitential pilgrimage to foster reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous peoples was his remarks to Inuit youth in Iqaluit.

It was genocide, plain and simple.

As Pope Francis concluded his intensive five-day pilgrimage of reconciliation on Canadian soil, he spoke directly to Inuit youth in Iqaluit and offered them three pieces of advice: keep walking upwards, come to the light each day and be part of a team.

On the final day of Pope Francis’ pilgrimage of penance, one of healing and reconciliation, he says it is he who has been “enriched” by the experience.

If Canadian Catholics were looking for a roadmap to reconciliation, Pope Francis laid it out for them at a vespers prayer service in Quebec City’s exquisite Notre Dame Basilica Cathedral on a rainy Thursday evening.

The full text of the homily given by Pope Francis at solemn vespers celebrated in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Quebec July 28, 2022.

The full text of the homily delivered by Pope Francis at Mass at the National Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec July 28, 2022.

In the face of sin and failure, the temptation to wallow in despair and do nothing comes from the devil, Pope Francis said.

For Vaughan Nicholas there were tears well before Pope Francis began to speak. Waiting for Mass at the National Shrine of Ste. Anne de Beaupre east of Quebec City to begin, he said, “I’m hoping I will actually feel something.”

The muting of approval following Pope Francis’ wholesale, emotional, and historic apology on Canadian soil for the “evil” done to Indigenous people has come in two forms.