Pope Francis’ visit to Canada begins this Sunday, July 24th. As we prepare to welcome the Pope, all people are invited to participate in this historic journey of healing and reconciliation.
As a first step, take some time to reflect and pray about the meaning and importance of this visit. The Vatican News has published an editorial about Pope Francis’ “penitential pilgrimage”; another good resource is the Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle website, which includes prayers for healing and reconciliation. Novalis has also produced a digital booklet that includes prayers, reflections on the significance of the visit, and texts for all the liturgies that will be celebrated by the Pope.
For those who hope to attend the visit in person, the final block of tickets for the July 26 Mass at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton will be released online on Friday, July 22 at 9:30 am Pacific Time. The papal visit website (https://www.papalvisit.ca/) will have a link to the ticket ordering page. All tickets are free, and will likely be claimed very quickly. There are also public events in Quebec and Iqaluit; check the papal visit website for the most up-to-date information.
There are also many opportunities to participate remotely in the Pope’s visit. The papal visit website will have livestream coverage featuring interpretation in many languages, including Indigenous languages and American Sign Language. The site will also share feeds from Vatican TV that include commentary in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and German. Additionally, Salt & Light Catholic Media Foundation has a dedicated site with information and broadcast details for the papal visit.
Throughout the liturgies that Pope Francis will celebrate in Canada, the Prayers of the Faithful speak again and again about healing and reconciliation. Together with the Pope and with Catholics across the country and around the world, we pray:
For the pursuit of reconciliation between all peoples of these lands and the Church, that together, we may help one another realize our God-given dignity and so enjoy the bonds of unity and peace;
For a fresh outpouring of the Great Spirit over all of us gathered here and beyond, that we may experience healing, wholeness and peace;
For all of the peoples who share this vast land now called Canada, that we may seek to live in harmony with one another and set an example of peaceful citizenship for the whole world;
Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
