First Nations chief will hand deliver invitation to Pope Francis to visit Kamloops
When she sits down with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday as part of a delegation of First Nations leaders and residential school survivors, Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir will hand deliver an invitation for the pontiff to visit Kamloops, B.C.
"That is ground zero, that is where the news first shook the world," said Casimir from her hotel room in Rome. After the presence of 215 unmarked graves was confirmed at the site of the Kamloops Residential School last May, a light was shone once again on the horrific abuses perpetrated in those institutions. Demands for a papal apology for the role the Roman Catholic Church played in the administration of these schools were renewed.
While Casimir says she is confident Pope Francis will visit Canada to make an in-person apology for the intergenerational harm caused by residential schools, she isn’t sure if his itinerary will include Kamloops. She hopes the personal invitation will sway him.
"I’m not expecting an answer right there, but knowing he is coming to Canada, I want our people to be able to have that opportunity to bear witness as well, and see these first steps he is willing to make on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church," said Casimir.
She calls the week of meetings between the pope and First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegations from across Canada important and historic.
"This is definitely a first step, knowing that we are going to be having that time and that opportunity to share with him the grievances, the traumas, the pain, as well as the truth telling, and for him to really be able to listen to us," she said.
Thursday’s delegation has chosen to allocate 10 minutes of its time with the pope to Casimir, who says she is nervous about the meeting.
"I am carrying a lot of weight on my shoulders. I’m carrying a lot of messages that have been shared with me to bring forth. And for me, I just have that responsibility and that honour to do that on behalf of my people," Casimir said.
"I take that with the hope there will be some meaningful steps that will be implemented moving forward."
In 2015, one of the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was for an apology from the pope.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.