Pope Francis is scheduled to pay an apostolic visit to Canada from July 24 to 29.
C. Rubini CTC, Vatican News
With just over a month to go, the Vatican has released the outline of the pope’s visit to Canada.
Departing from Rome’s Fumicino International Airport on Sunday, July 24, the Pope will be officially received at Edmonton International Airport on the same day.
The pope’s first public event will begin on Monday, July 25, with a meeting with the local people. FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS AND INUIT And the local community will be in Mesquaces, about 70 miles[70 km]from Edmonton. Returning to Edmonton from there, the Pope will visit the locals and parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish in the afternoon.
Mass will be held at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Tuesday the 26th. He will then attend a pilgrimage and word ministry at LockSTN outside the city.
He will return to Quebec City on Wednesday, July 27 after completing his visit to western Canada. The Governor General of Canada Francis will formally receive the Pope and meet with the Prime Minister. He will then meet with civil authorities, representatives of the local people and members of the diplomatic corps.
On Thursday, July 28, the National Pilgrimage Center, V.S. Mass will be celebrated in the church of St. Andy Beaufrey. In the evening, bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated people, seminary students and pastors will join in the evening prayers at Notre Dame Cathedral.
The pope will hold a private meeting with members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Archdiocese of Quebec on Friday, July 27, after which he will meet with a delegation of indigenous peoples.
It will then be flown to Ikhaluvit, the capital of Nunavut Province. Here he will hold a private meeting with students from former residential schools at Ikhaluwit Primary School. Pope Francis’ last public event in Canada will be a gathering of young and old alike here. The Holy Father will depart from Iqaluit Airport on Friday afternoon and will return to Rome’s Fumicino Airport on Saturday morning.