OTTAWA – Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to depart Canada Friday night time for his first official journey to the Vatican the place he’ll attend the inaugural mass for Pope Leo XIV on Sunday.
Carney is a religious Catholic however was unable to attend Pope Francis’s funeral on April 26 as a result of it fell two days earlier than the federal election.
The inaugural mass, which serves because the swearing-in of types for a brand new pope, is drawing many worldwide leaders and Carney is anticipated to have bilateral conferences with a number of of them in the course of the journey.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, French Prime Minister François Bayrou and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are amongst those that have confirmed they’re attending. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can be hoping to attend.
Meeting of First Nations Nationwide Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak and Métis Nationwide Council president Victoria Pruden are travelling with the Canadian delegation.
Pruden is asking on the Vatican’s Amina Mundi Museum to return Métis cultural artifacts in its assortment.
“We’re asking the Vatican to work with Métis knowledge-keepers, historians and specialists to determine which gadgets of their assortment belong to our individuals and to return them,” Pruden stated in a media assertion.
“These artifacts have been taken throughout eras of profound injustice. Their return is an important step in advancing reconciliation and repairing the deep harms brought on by colonial insurance policies, together with the function the Church performed within the residential college system.”
Indigenous leaders beforehand referred to as upon the late Pope Francis to return the artifacts. In 2023 he promised to take action however it has not but occurred.
Leo, nonetheless new to the function, has not but stated whether or not he’ll honour that pledge.
In an handle to diplomats posted on the Vatican Friday morning, Leo reaffirmed the Church’s efforts to “attain out to and embrace all people and all peoples on the Earth” via peace, justice and reality.
“I imagine that religions and interreligious dialogue could make a elementary contribution to fostering a local weather of peace. This naturally requires full respect for non secular freedom in each nation, since non secular expertise is an important dimension of the human particular person,” he stated.
“With out it, it’s tough, if not inconceivable, to carry in regards to the purification of the guts essential for constructing peaceable relationships.”
— with information from Alessia Passafiume and The Related Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Could 16, 2025
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