Pope Francis will visit Canada from July 24-29 and meet with Indigenous leaders and residential school survivors, including in Edmonton, Lac Sainte-Anne, Québec City, Sainte-Anne de Beaupre and Iqaluit.
Members of the media may directly contact the following expert:
Emma Anderson (English and French)
Full Professor, Department of Classics and Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts
Professor Anderson is a historian of religion in Canada, with a special focus on Indigenous/Catholic encounters, and can comment on the following particulars of the Pope’s visit:
- The historic significance of Pope Francis' visit compared to past Papal visits of Canada
- The history of residential schools in Canada and the comparative involvement of different denominations in the system
- Analysis of the Pope’s apology, homilies, speeches, and other remarks to Canada's Indigenous communities
- What next steps are necessary from the Catholic church in reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
- The historical significance in the spirituality of Indigenous Catholics in Canada of various sites to be visited by the Pope, including Lac Saint-Anne and Sainte-Anne de Beaupré
- Pope Francis and his future: is his resignation imminent?
