Washington, 29 July, 2022 / 8:30 pm (ACI Africa).
As Pope Francis concludes his visit to Canada, he is leaving behind his “dearest friend”: St. Joseph.
Before traveling to Iqaluit on Friday, the 85-year-old pontiff gifted a statue of St. Joseph and the Child Jesus to the archbishop’s residence in Québec City, according to the Holy See Press Office. He presented an identical statue of Jesus’ foster father to St. Joseph Seminary, which hosted him at the start of his trip in Edmonton, Alberta.
“I am leaving you my dearest friend,” he told the institute, Vatican News shared.
Pope Francis embarked on what he called a “penitential pilgrimage” to Canada on July 24. During his time there, he has asked forgiveness for the Catholic Church’s role in running many of the country’s government-sponsored residential schools for indigenous children. These schools, in place until the late 1990s, worked to stamp out aspects of native culture, language, and religious practice. Former students have described mistreatment and abuse.