Never before during his nearly decade-long pontificate has Pope Francis described any of his international trips as a "penitential pilgrimage." It is precisely this description, which the Pope used during the Angelus on Sunday, 17 July, that helps us understand the peculiarities of his upcoming journey to Canada. It is not primarily a visit to a country, nor one with the main purpose of meeting Catholic communities, but rather a concrete gesture of closeness to the indigenous peoples who inhabit that land and have suffered the consequences of colonialism.

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the Fund is officially accepting proposals and distributing funds for projects in support of healing and reconciliation. Projects are determined locally in consultation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples, and the first proposal received approval on July 15, 2022...

June 23, 2022 – Canada’s Catholic Bishops welcome today’s announcement from the Holy See providing further details of the itinerary of Pope Francis’ historic visit to Canada, July 24 – 29, 2022. This will be the fourth papal visit to Canada and the first since Saint John Paul II’s journey in 2002. 

The Outaouais region has an abundance of community organizations and volunteers who witness the presence and love of God through their work. Over the past seven years, the Archdiocese of Gatineau has contributed to the mission of non-profit organizations in the area, strengthening the relationship between the church and the community...