TEMPORARILY POSTING USA CONGRESS and Trump Assassination attempt HERE ob•serv•er
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Justin
Trudeau says he told Pope Francis it's important for all Canadians to
move forward with reconciliation, and that the pontiff could help by
issuing an apology for the role the Catholic Church played in
residential schools. Trudeau said the Pope appeared open to the request.
MONTREAL – Canadian religious leaders were joined by Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau and other dignitaries at a commemorative high Mass at
Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal May 17 to mark the founding of Montreal
375 years ago as a Roman Catholic religious colony.
Prominent among the celebrants were the Canadian Primate Cardinal
Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto and the papal
nuncio Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi. Pope Francis, who declined an
invitation to come to Montreal for the celebrations, sent greetings. Church bells pealed throughout the city prior to the Mass, which was
celebrated by Montreal Archbishop Christian Lepine with participation
from more than two dozen bishops and approximately 400 priests, deacons
and members of religious communities. Trudeau, who supports a woman’s right to abortion and whose
government recently began funding abortion in the developing world,
received holy communion from Lepine. The celebrations included the participation of indigenous communities
in recognition of the city being built on unceded Mohawk territory. The message from Pope Francis gave “thanks to the Lord for the faith
and the hope that led men and women from France to found Ville-Marie,”
and he encouraged “all inhabitants of Montreal to build bridges between
men, respecting their differences and thus contributing to the building
of a more just and fraternal society.” Trudeau, speaking at the pulpit from which he gave the eulogy in 2000
for his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, praised
Montreal for its diversity.
He repeated the theme at a wreath-laying ceremony in Place d’Armes
outside the basilica honouring the city’s founders, Paul Chomedey Sieur
de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance. In founding the original settlement
called Ville Marie de Montreal in 1642, their mission was to convert the
native population to Christianity. “The fourth largest francophone city in the world, Montreal is a
hallmark of the central role Canada’s francophone community has played
and continues to play in building our country,” Trudeau said. “We also
recognize the indigenous people who originally inhabited this island and
knew it by its indigenous name. Thanks in great part to its francophone
and indigenous roots, Montreal represents the best of Canada’s
openness, diversity and inclusiveness. “Today, Montreal is home to people from all over the world who speak
different languages, practice different religions and represent
different cultures. This diversity sets the city apart as an example of
pluralism for the rest of the world.” Chief Ghislain Picard of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and
Labrador reminded those gathered outside the church that when Europeans
arrived, the “unofficial founders” of the island called it Tiohtiake. “It is the name the Mohawk gave it, because it was an important
territory, a place for gathering and trade for several First Nations,”
he said. As part of the celebrations Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre declared the
city to be “The Metropolis of Reconciliation.” Coderre acknowledged
that the treatment of the First Nations has been ignored throughout the
centuries in the history of Montreal. The city plans to redesign its
flag to reflect their importance to the fabric of the community. The pealing of church bells began prior to the Mass at St. Joseph’s
Oratory atop Mount Royal. The joyous sound soon rang out across the
archdiocese as other churches began to ring their bells in unison as an
invitation to Montrealers to share a “moment of joy and reflection.”