Pope Francis Leads Massive Mass in Canada

Pope Francis led a massive prayer mass in the Commonwealth Stadium in Alberta, Canada as part of the Pope's continued tour of the state.

Alomost 50,000 people attended the prayer on the day the Roman Catholic Church that marked the feast of the grandparents of Jesus.

Francis described grandparents as "a precious treasure that preserves a history greater than themselves". He said modern society should be more attuned to the gifts of elders, who should not be pushed aside simply because they could not be as productive as before.

"In the fog of forgetfulness that overshadows our turbulent times, it is essential to cultivate our roots, to pray for and with our forebears, to dedicate time to remember and guard their legacy. This is how a family tree grows; this is how the future is built."

Pope Francis will meet groups of Indigenous peoples during his Canada tour as an apology for the horrors done by the Catholic missionaries in the country against the Indigenous people.

Pope Francis started his Canada trip on Sunday for expressing apologies over the tragic crimes of the church in the Indigenous residential schools.

He tweeted: “Dear brothers and sisters of Canada, I come among you to meet the indigenous peoples. I hope, with God’s grace, that my penitential pilgrimage might contribute to the journey of reconciliation already undertaken. Please accompany me with.” 

The week-trip will be a “penitential pilgrimage” for asking for the forgiveness of the Canadians after unearthing the bodies of hundreds of Indigenous children who were oppressed by the Catholic missionaries.

This trip followed his previous public apology last April.