Pope Francis is traveling to Quebec as his visit to Canada comes to an end

EDMONTON –

Pope Francis is due to leave Edmonton for Quebec City today, starting the next leg of what he described as his “penitential” trip to Canada.

The pope is due to visit the Plains of Abraham in the Quebec capital with officials shortly after his plane lands.

Francis will hold Mass on Thursday at the National Cathedral of St. Anne de Beaupré east of the city, then attend vespers with church officials at the cathedral-basilica of Notre Dame de Quebec.

On Friday, he is due to make a brief stop in Iqaluit before returning to the Vatican.

The Alberta leg of the Pope’s trip included a visit to the local community of Maskwatzis, south of Edmonton.

Standing there before residential school survivors and local leaders, he apologized for the abuses at the institutions, most of which were run by the Roman Catholic Church.

Francis also led an outdoor public Mass at Edmonton’s soccer stadium that some criticized as too traditional.

He also joined a pilgrimage at Lac Ste. Ann, northwest of Edmonton — a place of spiritual significance to many local Catholics, believed to have healing properties. Francis blessed the lake and then sprinkled some of its water on the people in the crowd.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 27, 2022.