Toronto 
Vatican today announced the details of the July visit by Pope Francis.
The head of the Catholic Church will be travelling to Edmonton, Québec and Iqaluit from July 24th to 29th.
As per the news release, the Papal program will draw on the theme of “Walking Together” and will include a combination of public and private events, with an emphasis on Indigenous participation throughout the visit.
Due to the popularity of the event, free tickets will be required for the public events, which will be announced in the coming days.
Highlights of the Canadian Tour:
July 24, 2022 – Alberta
- The Holy Father will arrive in Edmonton, Alberta on July 24th. Following a brief airport ceremony, the 85-year-old pontiff will take the remainder of the day to rest.
July 25, 2022 – Alberta
- Pope Francis will visit Maskwacis, home to the former Ermineskin Residential School, one of the largest residential school sites in Canada. The Holy Father will join former residential school students from across the country as part of a formal program.
- Pontiff will visit Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, a National Indigenous church in downtown Edmonton. This will be an invitation-only event.
July 26, 2022 – Alberta
- Holy Father will celebrate an open-air Mass at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on the feast of St. Anne, grandmother of Jesus, a day of particular reverence for Indigenous Catholics. This event will be open to the public and can accommodate up to 65,000 attendees for a program that will incorporate Indigenous traditions as part of the gathering.
- Later, Holy Father will travel to Lac Ste. Anne, the site of an annual pilgrimage that welcomes tens of thousands of Indigenous participants from throughout Canada and the United States each year. Programming will be offered throughout the day leading up to the Holy Father’s participation in a prayer service.
July 27, 2022 – Quebec
- The Holy Father will depart Edmonton for Quebec City.
- pope will visit La Citadelle, where he will take part in private meetings.
- Pope Francis will also offer a public address.
- For events in Quebec City, the public is also invited to participate at a dedicated area on the Plains of Abraham, where there will be opportunities on July 27 and 28 for Indigenous cultural expression as well as the chance to view papal events on large screens. The detailed program of activities on the Plains is being developed with Indigenous and community partners.
July 28, 2022 – Quebec
- Pope Francis will travel to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, where he will celebrate Mass at one of the oldest and most popular pilgrimage sites in North America. Organizers anticipate between 10,000 and 15,000 guests may attend with space for guests both inside and outside the basilica.
- His Holiness will then meet with bishops, priests, seminarians, consecrated men and women as well as those who work in various church ministries.
- The pope will have the remainder of the evening for rest while a dinner focused on friendship and ongoing dialogue will bring together Indigenous leaders from Eastern Canada and representatives of the Catholic Bishops of Canada.
July 29, 2022 – Iqaluit
- Pope Francis will have a private meeting with members of his own religious order (Society of Jesus)
- He will meet with Indigenous leaders from Eastern Canada before departing for Iqaluit
- In Iqaluit, Pope Francis will spend the afternoon in a private meeting with residential school survivors before attending a public community event hosted by Inuit.
The Holy Father will depart for Rome from Iqaluit in the early evening.
Further details will be available on the website in the coming days.
