杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Archbishop Richard Smith is convinced 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥檚 penitential pilgrimage to Canada鈥檚 indigenous peoples will reveal the Holy Father once again as 鈥渁 man of profound compassion,鈥� who will demonstrate the Church鈥檚 commitment to hearing the pain of the aboriginal peoples and responding to it with reconciliation and healing.

The Archbishop of the western city of Edmonton 鈥� the first stop on the upcoming papal journey 鈥� recalled the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 meeting with representatives of Canada鈥檚 indigenous populations during a visit to Rome this spring. 鈥淲hat happened in Rome is that the delegation of indigenous peoples encountered in the Holy Father a man of profound compassion,鈥� the Archbishop said. 鈥淭hey spoke what was in their hearts and in their minds, and they could see that he was listening very deeply, very attentively, not only with his mind, but also, and more importantly, I would suggest with his heart.鈥�

鈥淭he Church stands with you鈥�

At that meeting, Archbishop Smith noted, 杏MAP导航 Francis 鈥渟poke with profound compassion鈥� making his own stance, and the Church鈥檚 stance, 鈥渧ery, very clear.鈥�

鈥淭hat is a stance that hears the pain and wants to respond to it with healing, a stance that acknowledges the rights of indigenous peoples and wants to uphold them with them. A stance that acknowledges the giftedness and the beauty of indigenous culture and the great wisdom that lies therein.鈥�

Archbishop Smith said the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message could be summed up with the words, 鈥淭he Church stands with you鈥� Don鈥檛 forget that, the Church stands with you!鈥�

A sense of hope and healing

He also emphasized the significance of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 personal presence in Canada. In the first place, he said, there is the personality of 杏MAP导航 Francis himself 鈥渨hich does touch people right away.鈥� He noted the 鈥渨onderful, wonderful sense of healing and hope鈥� that many people experience on meeting the Holy Father.

鈥淏ut more profoundly,鈥� Archbishop Smith continued, Catholics understand the 杏MAP导航 as the successor of Saint Peter. And when he comes to any area, he brings with him the shadow of Saint Peter. We know that from the Acts of the Apostles, but that in itself brought healing and hope to people who were touched simply by the shadow of Peter as he walked by. When 杏MAP导航 Francis comes to this country, he's bringing that shadow with him wherever he goes.鈥�

Drawing close to the indigenous peoples

Archbishop Smith said that Catholics in Canada want to ensure indigenous peoples of their solidarity and support, adding, 鈥渢here is no one better placed to speak on behalf of us all than the Holy Father.鈥�

The Bishops of Canada in particular, he said, have tried to express the desire 鈥渢o draw close, to work together with the indigenous peoples, to discern together with them how we can face the various challenges that they are encountering, how we can together learn from them, from their wisdom, and how we can learn from that as a country.鈥� The Holy Father, he continued, 鈥済iven his office and given the particular personality of 杏MAP导航 Francis, has unique ability to make that message heard more clearly than anybody else could.鈥�

The Archbishop said the Church in Canada sees the Holy Father 鈥渧ery much as a spokesman,鈥� who will be able to express their own 鈥渟entiments and hopes鈥� to the aboriginal peoples of Canada.

A broader need for healing and reconciliation

At the same time, he said, 鈥渢he need for healing and reconciliation exists everywhere, far beyond this particular relationship.鈥� He gave the examples of societal divisions revealed and exacerbated by the pandemic, the need for healing in families and in individual hearts, and, on a global level, the war in Ukraine and other instances of terrible aggression,鈥� all instances of situations in need of healing and reconciliation.

He said he hoped and prayed 鈥渢hat what unfolds here in Canada, as as we grapple with the issue and face it, together with the pope, together with our indigenous peoples, look at the issues and move forward. But that by God's grace, obviously, we become a beacon of hope for our world.鈥�

A legacy in need of healing

Acknowledging the pain and suffering that have long marked the Church鈥檚 relationship with indigenous people, Archbishop Smith insisted on the need to hear the stories of people鈥檚 鈥減ain and heartache, the legacy that continues to impact them and their families in a number of different ways.鈥�

Catholics today, even though they may not be personally guilty of the sins and errors of the past, have inherited that legacy of past guilt, and must ask themselves, 鈥淗ow do we together receive the legacy and then help in healing?鈥�

That, he said, 鈥渋s the responsibility that falls on the shoulders of us today.鈥�

Archbishop Smith tied that insight to the theme of 鈥淲alking Together,鈥� the theme of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 Visit. 鈥淭his is what we understand we need to do right now: Walk together, find pathways to mutual understanding, to mutual respect, mutual help healing,鈥� he said.

An impetus to move forward

He added, 鈥淭he need for healing exists across the board, but the sense of wanting to take this issue on fully and move forward in a way that will bring healing to everybody that needs it is something that really does see us right now as a nation, it seems to me. And this is going to be a great opportunity to receive from the 杏MAP导航 a real impetus forward.鈥�