‘Greatest honour’ representing Manitoba

Manitoba Sen. Gigi Osler was moved to tears as she described attending the funeral of Pope Francis, who was laid to rest in Vatican City on Saturday at a ceremony attended by hundreds of thousands from across the world.

“It was a very bittersweet, but solemn and beautiful day. He was so deeply loved,” Osler said by phone Sunday, speaking slowly and, at times, overwhelmed with emotion.

“It was truly the greatest honour to be able to represent Manitobans and Canada at the funeral of such an impactful pope who really embodied humility, compassion and love for all of us.”

Osler was among a delegation of Canadian officials and Indigenous leaders who travelled to pay their final respects to the late pontiff, who died of a stroke and heart failure April 21 at age 88.

Osler returned to Canada on Sunday, and said she was “still processing” the experience when she spoke with the Free Press.

Several notable Manitobans were among the mourners, including Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand, Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Cindy Woodhouse and Phil Fontaine, who is a former head of both the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and AFN.

Senate speaker Raymonde Gagné, who is also from Manitoba, made the trip, as did Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, Osler said.

Osler, who did not have an opportunity to meet Pope Francis before his death, said the roughly 90-minute ceremony reflected the humility that was a trademark of his 12-year papacy. He was buried in a plain wooden casket, and with simplified funeral rights, she said.

According to Vatican estimates, some 250,000 people attended the funeral in St. Peter’s Square while 150,000 others lined the motorcade route that stretched about six kilometres through downtown Rome.

Osler said the pontiff will be remembered for his dedication to building bridges and extending compassion to vulnerable and marginalized people.

“I think Manitobans loved Pope Francis, and not just Catholics,” Osler said, referencing the pope’s 2022 visit to Canada, during which he apologized for harms the Catholic Church inflicted through the residential school system.

About 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools, more than 60 per cent of which were run by the Catholic Church.

Francis met with Indigenous people who survived the schools and listened to their stories.

“His recognition of the ongoing trauma was powerful, not just for First Nations, Indigenous and Métis people who experienced abuse. I think, as Manitobans, we need to offer all of our deepest condolences and (recognize) his impact,” Osler said.

Chartrand was part of a 50-person Indigenous delegation that went to the Vatican in 2022 and encouraged the pope to come to Canada.

Francis demonstrated respect to the group, shaking each person’s hand despite concerns over the then-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the delegation were moved to tears by the gesture, Chartrand said.

When the pope later arrived in Canada, Chartrand remembered feeling “the healing will truly progress and begin now with his personal attendance,” he said.

The Métis president waited in line for more than three hours Friday to view the pope’s body and pay his final respects. He attended the funeral service the following day.

“To me, it was such an honour to be here and to show respect back to him, as he showed to us,” Chartrand said by phone from Rome on Sunday.

“I saw people cry, I saw people hug, I saw young and old with their families… To me, he was the pope of hope.”

Chartrand carried a rosary in honour of his late mother — a devout Catholic — with him as he walked several kilometres through the press of bodies that formed the crowd, he said.

“Just to be there was priceless. Nobody can replace that. It’s something I will cherish forever,” he said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca