Papal visit 2022

wfpstory:576359872:wfpstory

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/03/2022 (1579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Special human moment made everyone smile

Linda Daniels, a residential school survivor from Long Plains First Nation, is overcome with emotion as she is greeted at the Winnipeg airport by drummers and family after returning from her week-long trip to Rome as part of the First Nations delegation to meet with Pope Francis. (John Longhurst / Winnipeg Free Press)

Posted:

My time in Rome last week was filled with many more stories than I could write, an ocean of information and emotion from having a front row seat to history in the making as Métis, First Nations and Inuit delegates shared their stories with Pope Francis — and received a personal apology in return.

Read full story

 


 

Day of symbolic connection, not reconciliation

The final audience stands with Pope Francis and members of the Indigenous delegation where the Pontiff delivered an apology for the Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system, at the Vatican, Friday, April 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Vatican Media *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Posted:

At the end of a remarkable week at the Vatican in Rome — where delegations of Métis, Inuit and First Nations leaders met with the Pope to discuss the abuses perpetrated by the Catholic Church and ask for an apology in Canada — the Holy Father offered each group a bronze olive branch as a gift representing “peace” and “reconciliation.”

Read full story

 


 

Pieces of Brandon residential school to be left in Rome

Jade Harper holds a brick from the former Brandon residential school attended by her grandmother and other relatives while in Rome this week. Jade Harper, a member of Peguis First Nation, came to Rome to help make a documentary about the First Nations delegation to see the Pope, she knew what she needed to bring. (Fred Cattroll)

Posted:

ROME — When Jade Harper of Peguis First Nation came to Rome to help make a documentary about the First Nations delegation meeting the Pope this week, she knew what she needed to bring: a brick.

Read full story

 


 

Papal apology for Catholic Church's role in residential schools

Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, and residential school survivor Linda Daniels from the Long Plains First Nation (right), present Pope Francis with a stole that was made by Therese Dettanikkeaze from Northlands Denesuline Nation in Manitoba, at the Vatican, Friday, April 1, 2022. The final audience stands with Pope Francis and members of the Indigenous delegation where the Pontiff delivered an apology for the Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system, at the Vatican, Friday, April 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Vatican Media *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Posted:

ROME — “With all my heart, I am very sorry.”

Read full story

 


 

‘Very clear’ Pope was listening: Fontaine

Members of a delegations by the Assembly of First Nations meet the journalists outside St. Peter’s Square at the end of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Thursday. (Andrew Medichini / The Associated Press)

Posted:

ROME — When he came to Rome in 2009 to meet Pope Benedict XVI, former Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine asked for an apology to Indigenous people. The Pope declined to do that.

Read full story

 


 

Vatican Museum’s Indigenous ‘gifts’ belong in Canada, delegates say

Most of the objects were collected by Pope Pius XI for a world mission exhibition in 1925. (Archdiocese of Edmonton)

Posted:

ROME — As delegates from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities travelled by bus from Rome’s airport to their hotel Sunday morning, a tour guide proudly pointed out various landmarks.

Read full story

 


 

Papal apology mandatory for reconciliation, B.C. chief says

KELLY GERALDINE MALONE / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Chief Rosanne Casimir said moving forward will require acts of contrition so “wrongs can be made right for our people.”

Posted:

ROME — It’s nearly 9,000 kilometres from the Vatican to Kamloops, B.C., but for Rosanne Casimir, Kúkpi7 (chief) of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc in that interior B.C. community, the two are strongly linked.

Read full story

 


 

Métis fiddler honoured to support delegation

John Longhurst / Winnipeg Free Press
Fiddler Alex Kusturok led the Métis delegation out of the Vatican earlier this week. Kusturok teaches fiddle, jigging, dancing and playing the spoons in Métis settlements and First Nations communities in Alberta.

Posted:

ROME — When fiddler Alex Kusturok led the Métis delegation out of the Vatican Monday, his one-month-old son was on his mind.

Read full story

 


 

Winnipeg good place for Pope’s apology: Fontaine

Pope Francis delivers a blessing from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square during the Angelus noon prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, March 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Posted:

ROME — Phil Fontaine believes Pope Francis intends to issue an apology to Indigenous people on Canadian soil.

Read full story

 


 

Métis, Inuit delegations call on Pope to commit to reconciliation

JOHN LONGHURST / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Cassidy Caron, president of the National Metis Council, speaks at the media scrum after meeting with the Pope.

Posted:

ROME — It might have been the first time the Red River Jig was played in St. Peter’s Square.

Read full story

 


 

Métis delegates first to meet with Pope

Métis National Council president Cassidy Caron wears her new beaded jacket with Mitchell Case, showing the red moccasins for the Pope. (John Longhurst / Winnipeg Free Press)

Posted:

ROME — Mitchell Case gave Cassidy Caron, president of the Métis National Council, two traditional handmade gifts before delegates from the organization met with Pope Francis on Monday.

Read full story

 


 

Indigenous tell pope of abuses at Canada residential schools

FILE - Native Canadian Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, attends Pope Benedict XVI general audience in St. Peter

Posted:

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Indigenous leaders from Canada and survivors of the country’s notorious residential schools met with Pope Francis on Monday and told him of the abuses they suffered at the hands of Catholic priests and school workers. They came hoping to secure a papal apology and a commitment by the church to repair the harm done.

Read full story

 


 

Sunrise ceremony before papal visit

Elder Fred Kelly leads the sunrise ceremony before the first visit to the Pope in Rome. (John Longhurst / Winnipeg Free Press)

Posted:

ROME — Delegates and supporters from the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami gathered on the roof of their hotel Monday morning for a sunrise ceremony before the first meetings with Pope Francis in Rome.

Read full story

 


 

Doctrine of Discovery on agenda at meeting between Pope, First Nations

Pope Francis delivers a blessing from his studio window overlooking St. Peter

Posted:

ROME — When delegates from the Assembly of First Nations meet Thursday with Pope Francis, they intend to ask him not just for an apology but to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery issued in 1493.

Read full story

 


 

Indigenous delegations’ meetings with Pope expected to drive reconciliation

“The reality is we have broken relationships with Indigenous people here in Canada,” said Winnipeg Archbishop Richard Gagnon. (Sasha Sefter / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Posted:

A journey that started four years ago — interrupted twice by the COVID-19 pandemic — takes an important step next week when delegations from the Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami meet Pope Francis in Rome.

Read full story

 


 

Residential schools apology to be sought in Rome

Tk

Posted:

For Assembly of First Nations Northwest Territories regional chief Gerald Antoine, this week’s trip to Rome to meet with Pope Francis “has been a long time in coming.”

Read full story

 


 

Oblates to open Rome residential school archives

An exterior view of the residential school of the Obaltes Sisters in Fort Alexandre is shown in this handout image provided by the archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface

Posted:

WINNIPEG - A Catholic religious order that operated some residential schools in Canada says it will open its archives in Rome to researchers.

Read full story

 


 

Reconciliation needed with Catholic Church

A view of St. Peter

Posted:

One week from today, on March 28, a 13-person delegation from the Assembly of First Nations will arrive at the Vatican in Rome to meet with the Pope.

Read full story

 


History

Updated on Monday, March 28, 2022 12:54 PM CDT: Updates images, summary.

Report Error Submit a Tip

The Free Press acknowledges the financial support it receives from members of the city’s faith community, which makes our coverage of religion possible.

More Stories

Indigenous drum group celebrates sisterhood, solidarity

Maggie Macintosh 5 minute read Preview

Indigenous drum group celebrates sisterhood, solidarity

Maggie Macintosh 5 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

Aliyah Yellowback wants a seat at the drum circle.

There are differing Indigenous teachings and perspectives on whether women should join in, but the 16 year old has found a spot around a big drum inside a welcoming community at St. John’s High School.

“I automatically get goosebumps and shivers in me — it’s such an empowering feeling,” Aliyah said as she described what it’s like to perform her favourite song with drum group Leading Lynx (Niighani Bezhew in Anishinaabemowin).

“Strong Woman Song really resonates with our drum group because we are strong women. We are resilient, we are powerful and when people hear our voices, I feel like they can feel that, too.”

Read
6:00 AM CDT

Longtime CNIB volunteer says he’s still amazed at people’s resilience

Tiago Resko 7 minute read Preview

Longtime CNIB volunteer says he’s still amazed at people’s resilience

Tiago Resko 7 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

After decades of helping blind and partially sighted Manitobans live their dreams, Ken Curtis says he’s still inspired by the courage and strength the clients of the CNIB demonstrate every day.

“For me, they’re just the most unbelievable people in the world,” he said.

Curtis has been volunteering for 40 years with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, which helps blind and partially sighted people find innovative ways to achieve their goals.

“The bravery that these people show in terms of what they’ve accomplished and who they are and their positive attitude, I just fell in love with all of our clients,” he said. “And of course many of them are good friends now.”

Read
6:00 AM CDT

Parents praise water-safety education

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Preview

Parents praise water-safety education

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Updated: 8:21 AM CDT

Winnipeggers at Kildonan Park Pool were offered education about water safety on Sunday and one parent who had a previous drowning scare said the lessons could save a life.

One of several events this summer hosted by the Manitoba Coalition for Water Safety as part of National Drowning Prevention Week, the poolside event saw volunteers from the Lifesaving Society educating people on things like how to throw a rescue line and how to “swim to survive” which requires participants to fall in a pool, tread water for one minute and then swim 50 metres to safety.

Ashley Shepherd said she and her six-year-old son Logan, who was taking part in some of the exercises Sunday, had a close call at Birds Hill Park in 2024, with the incident happening in seconds.

She recalled how she turned around to help her young daughter who had lost her footing. A second later, her son fell off a floaty into the water and was quickly swept away. She went after the boy in a flash, but found herself tangled in seaweed and panicked, going under herself, a nearby couple coming to their rescue.

Read
Updated: 8:21 AM CDT

Britain gets new prime minister — again

Kyle Volpi Hiebert 4 minute read Preview

Britain gets new prime minister — again

Kyle Volpi Hiebert 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Number 10 Downing Street is welcoming its seventh premier in a decade. Andy Burnham, the charismatic ex-mayor of Manchester, is the latest to grip the poisoned chalice of U.K. leadership. He takes over from Sir Keir Starmer, who was forced out after only two years in office.

Read
2:00 AM CDT

A team — and league — of our own

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

A team — and league — of our own

Editorial 4 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

North American interest in soccer is at an all-time high. No wonder, given that Canada, Mexico and the United States have hosted the men’s World Cup for the past seven weeks.

Read
2:01 AM CDT

Winnipeg Fringe Festival: 2026 show reviews

Winnipeg Free Press 1 minute read Preview

Winnipeg Fringe Festival: 2026 show reviews

Winnipeg Free Press 1 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 14, 2026

Not sure what to see at this year's Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival? All of the Free Press’s reviews will be published here.  Find a show and click to read its review.

Read
Tuesday, Jul. 14, 2026