Following Pope Francis’ apology last April for the “deplorable conduct” of members of the Catholic Church at residential schools, the Pope will be in Quebec from July 27-29 to advance action toward reconciliation with Indigenous People.

Cree Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty expressed that while apologies from Pope Francis, especially on Canada’s colonized land is monumental to the reconciliation process, it is only a start to more action.

On Thursday July 28th, the Pope has schedule to hold a mass at the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica. A delegation of 10 people is expected to start a 275-kilometre healing walk from the Ponte-Bleue residential school to the provincial capital in solidarity to residential school survivor across Canada. About 16,000 Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are to gather at the Plains of Abraham to watch the Pope’s address next week due to already sold-out tickets to enter the Basilica which had sparked frustration in many Indigenous people as hearing the Pope’s address is important to the healing process.