(RoyalPatriot.com )- Pope Francis asked for prayers Sunday as he prepared for a trip to Canada later this month, where he wants to apologize to indigenous tribes for past Catholic Church atrocities.
Francis made the plea at St. Peter’s Square ahead of his seven-day journey to Canada on July 24.
“Next Sunday, God willing, I shall travel for Canada; therefore, I desire to address all the people of that country,” Francis remarked. “Dear brothers and sisters of Canada, as you know, I shall be coming in the name of Jesus to meet and love the indigenous peoples.”
The pope said past actions, including “many Christians,” have affected indigenous peoples in Canada.
He said, unfortunately, in Canada, many Christians, including some members of religious institutes, have contributed to cultural assimilation practices that have badly impacted indigenous communities.
Francis also requested others to “pray with me” as he prepared for his voyage. The journey is planned to include Edmonton, Quebec, and Iqaluit.
According to the AP, more than 150,000 aboriginal children in Canada were compelled to attend Christian schools from the 19th century through the 1970s.
Francis has postponed several recent travels owing to knee difficulties but is resolved to cross the Atlantic Ocean “God willing.”
Physical issues have led to speculations of the Pope retiring soon, but he denied them.
Pope Francis made waves lately for a Univision interview in which he called President Joe Biden’s claim to be Catholic and support abortion “incoherent.” Catholic Church doctrines reject abortion.
The pope remarked in the interview that the fetus’ DNA is present a month after conception, and the organs align. There is human life.
Francis told Biden to consult his spiritual counselors about the church’s stance on fetal life.
“I leave it to President Biden’s conscience and that he speaks to his bishop, his pastor, his parish priest about that incoherence,” the Pope stated.
The comment is part of a more significant worry over self-identified Catholic Democrats who support abortion rights, especially after the June 24 Supreme Court verdict that reversed Roe v. Wade and remanded abortion legislation to states.
In addition to Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was criticized for receiving communion at the Vatican despite being pro-abortion. Communion was not officiated by the pope but by another church authority.
The Associated Press claimed that Pelosi visited with Francis before the Mass and got his blessing.
