Bishop calls Pope visit an important step toward reconciliation

Bishop Thomas Dowd of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie is encouraged by the announcement that the Pope is willing to visit Canada.

He called it an important step to reconciliation and healing with Indigenous communities.

For more information, please see the news release included below.

Bishop Thomas Dowd of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie was thrilled at the news released from the Vatican early this morning that Pope Francis has indicated his willingness to visit Canada to meet with Indigenous peoples.

“This is welcome news from the Holy Father,” said Bishop Dowd. “I was very happy to receive this news this morning.”

Dowd said the news was encouraging given that the Pope’s presence in Canada “can be an important step in the process of reconciliation and healing.”

The official Vatican statement says that the Pope’s intention to visit Canada comes as a response to an invitation from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the date of the visit is yet to be determined.

A planned delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders and youth will be traveling to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis from Dec. 17-20, 2021. Dowd hopes that the December meeting between the pope and the planned delegation will help guide Pope Francis for his visit to Canada.