Photo Courtesy EverythingGP Staff

By Tanner Smith

Papal Visit

Local Elder is expecting an apology from Pope Francis at Holy Mass

Jul 23, 2022 | 7:00 AM

The Pope’s visit to Alberta will begin Sunday, July 24, in Edmonton and he will take part in various things including, taking another step toward reconciliation.

Local Elder Angie Crerar has been invited as a ‘special survivor’ to the Tuesday Mass and was one of the elders that went to Rome to meet the Pope.

Crerar says in order to reach reconciliation both sides need to stop the hatred.

“I do expect him to do the apology, but we don’t want just an apology. What I hope and what I spoke out about in Rome, we need more, we need some action, we need the Catholic Church to work with us.”

Crerar says on her visit to the Vatican when the Pope apologized she felt sadness in his eyes and years of anger left her body.

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“Our Pope is very kind. I looked up at him while I was speaking to him. I looked him square in the eye and I could feel the pain on his face.”

Crerar, a residential school survivor, says it’s going to take more than an apology to reach reconciliation but believes if Indigenous people and the church could work together, it would be possible.

“We have to learn to work together, and I’ve been saying that to our priest and bishop here. It’s going to take a while to stop (hating). I started after 40 years (forgiving). You have to forgive, say something nice, I don’t know what you can say about it, but how we get there (reconciliation) is together.”

She adds it’s important for the Pope to come here. Other elders are still very upset and she hopes after seeing him they will feel some relief.

Crerar said that it will be a hard emotional day because for some people, talking about this brings back some difficult memories. Her advice is to forgive and start the journey of healing.

The Pope lands in Edmonton Sunday, followed by a visit to Maskwacis on Monday. A Mass at Commonwealth Stadium and a visit to the site of the Lac St Anne Pilgrimage follow on Tuesday.