Canadian Catholics remember Pope Francis for his compassion, apology for residential schools
'He has started something we can't stop,' said Rev. Paul Lundrigan of Torbay, N.L.
Canadian Catholics are mourning Pope Francis as an ambassador for the disenfranchised and a progressive who wasn't afraid to challenge the status quo.
Catholics, many of whom had already planned to gather for mass on Easter Monday, awoke to news that the pontiff had died at 88.
Francis was the global leader of Canada's most popular organized religion. Nearly 11 million Canadians identified as Catholic in the 2021 census, second only to those without a religious affiliation.
Monday morning mass at St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto was dedicated to Francis, and those in attendance said his memory loomed large.
Rev. Joshua Roldan acknowledged the sombre mood among the congregation at St. Michael's, paid tribute to Francis and reflected on watching TV as Francis first appeared before the world as Pope on the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in March 2013.
"It was very humbling and inspiring to see a man who was truly in love with the Lord, truly moved by the power of the resurrection and truly understanding that he too, like all of us, needs the mercy and love of God."
At Ottawa's Saint Patrick Basilica, Father Stephen Amesse remembered Francis as an advocate for the poor and marginalized.
"If I think of anything about Pope Francis, it's his message of … welcome. And that, I hope, will be a long legacy."
Francis also drew attention to the plight of those suffering through war, including in Ukraine and Gaza.
Residential schools apology
Francis's most lasting impact in Canada is likely to be his response to one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action: that he apologize on Canadian soil for the legacy of residential schools.
That apology came in 2022, when the Pope visited Canada and said he was sorry that some members of the Catholic Church participated in the abuse, cultural destruction and forced assimilation of Indigenous Peoples.
Roughly 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools over a century, and the Catholic Church ran about 60 per cent of the institutions.
Many Indigenous people said the apology was necessary, but some said Francis didn't go far enough because he didn't name the crimes and abuses that happened in the facilities.
"Pope Francis wore his heart on his sleeve, even to the public, even before mass audiences," said Rev. Richard Smith, archbishop-designate of Vancouver. "But to see him open his heart, open his mind to the Indigenous was really — I think — an example to us all."
Donald Bolen, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Regina, said he was "deeply grateful" for the Pope's visit to Canada in 2022.
"His visit here was really, I think, a transformative moment," Bolen said. "He spoke from the heart. He spoke to the pain of our history. He offered apologies. He encountered Indigenous leaders and had meaningful conversations."
Progressive papacy
Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, was named Catholic Church head in 2013. He was the first pontiff from the Americas and the global south.
He was seen as a progressive pope, responsive to the needs of rank-and-file Catholics, whose policies opened the Catholic Church to more of the world.
Rev. Paul Lundrigan, of Holy Trinity Parish in Torbay, N.L., said Francis took risks in addressing abuse in ways others haven't. As well as the residential school apology, he also spoke on the role of women in the church and 2SLGBTQ+ Catholics.
"It has opened the door for a lot of people who felt pushed out and left out," Lundrigan said. "He has started something that we can't stop."
Nerina Robson, a Catholic who attends St. Ignatius Parish in Winnipeg, hopes his successor will carry on Francis's progressive legacy.
"There are forces in the church that were not happy with what Pope Francis was doing, and I worry that they will take over control of the church," she said. "That would be really difficult for many Catholics."
Cardinals from around the world — including four from Canada — will soon gather in Rome for a conclave in the coming weeks, where a new pope will be elected.
With files from The Canadian Press