NPC chief interviews bishops soliciting donations for papal visit


OTTAWA-

The assembly of Catholic bishops organizing Pope Francis’ visit to Canada, where he is expected to apologize for the Church’s role in residential schools, is soliciting donations from those who hope to see him.

RoseAnne Archibald, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, says people seeking to reserve seats for papal events on Ticketmaster told her they had been enticed to donate money to a registered charity.

The organizers of the papal visit confirm that the registered charity is the corporate name of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Archibald expressed concern in a recent letter to Archbishop of Edmonton Richard Smith, calling the fundraiser “inappropriate.”

Archibald says First Nations people and their communities face trauma inflicted on them by church-run residential schools.

The archdiocese and organizers of the papal visit have not yet responded to a request for comment.


This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 22, 2022.