Carney travelling to Rome with Liberal MPs for Pope's inaugural mass
Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to depart Canada Friday night for his first official trip to the Vatican where he will attend the inaugural mass for Pope Leo XIV on Sunday.
Carney is a devout Catholic but was unable to attend Pope Francis's funeral on April 26 because it fell two days before the federal election.
The inaugural mass, which serves as the swearing-in of sorts for a new pope, is drawing many international leaders and Carney is expected to have bilateral meetings with several of them during the trip.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) confirmed members of Parliament from the Liberal caucus, who are practising Catholics or who represent large Catholic constituencies, will be travelling with the prime minister.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, French Prime Minister François Bayrou and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are among those who have confirmed they're attending. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also hoping to attend.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak and Métis National Council President Victoria Pruden are travelling with the Canadian delegation.
Pruden is calling on the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum to return Métis cultural artifacts in its collection.
"We are asking the Vatican to work with Métis knowledge-keepers, historians and experts to identify which items in their collection belong to our people and to return them," Pruden said in a media statement.
"These artifacts were taken during eras of profound injustice. Their return is an essential step in advancing reconciliation and repairing the deep harms caused by colonial policies, including the role the Church played in the residential school system."
Indigenous leaders previously called upon Pope Francis to return the artifacts. In 2023 he promised to do so but it has not yet happened.
Leo, still new to the role, has not yet said whether he will honour that pledge.
In an address to diplomats posted at the Vatican Friday morning, Leo reaffirmed the Church's efforts to "reach out to and embrace all individuals and all peoples on the Earth" through peace, justice and truth.
"I believe that religions and interreligious dialogue can make a fundamental contribution to fostering a climate of peace. This naturally requires full respect for religious freedom in every country, since religious experience is an essential dimension of the human person," he said.
"Without it, it is difficult, if not impossible, to bring about the purification of the heart necessary for building peaceful relationships."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
13 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Carney's G7 invitation list continues to expand, despite concerns about India's presence
Prime Minister Mark Carney continues to expand the invitation list for the coming Group of Seven summit, as he seeks to build new economic partnerships, though some of his caucus members are raising concerns about India's presence at the table. The Globe and Mail has learned that Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will not attend next week's G7 gathering in Kananaskis, Alta. – a development that may ease some of the tension inside Mr. Carney's Liberal caucus, as some MPs were also upset about Mr. bin Salman's invitation. The MPs say India and Saudi Arabia are in violation of Mr. Carney's own G7 priority of 'countering foreign interference and transnational crime,' and therefore should not have been invited. A list of attendants of the June 15-17 summit, issued Wednesday by the Prime Minister's Office, includes the leaders of Brazil, South Africa, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Mexico, Ukraine and Australia; the presidents of the European Commission and World Bank; and the NATO secretary-general. More leaders may still be confirmed. The members of the G7, an informal grouping of some of the world's most advanced economies, are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States. The country hosting each year's summit often invites non-member states to attend in recognition of other major economies and the need for global collaboration on major policy priorities. Mr. Carney announced Wednesday that, ahead of the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will come to Ottawa for bilateral talks. 'Prime Minister Starmer's visit will strengthen the long-standing economic and security partnership between the two nations – and deliver growth and prosperity for our peoples,' Mr. Carney's office said in a statement. The two men previously met in March, on Mr. Carney's first trip abroad as Prime Minister. Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal criticizes Modi's G7 invitation in meeting with Carney The G7 summit will mark U.S. President Donald Trump's first visit to Canada since his re-election and imposition of tariffs on this country. Ottawa and Washington continue to negotiate toward a new trade and security deal. Mr. Carney has said the priorities guiding the summit are 'anchored' in building stronger economies. He will be seeking co-ordinated action in three areas: 'protecting our communities and the world,' 'building energy security and accelerating digital transitions,' and securing economic partnerships. Under that first heading, he specifically described tackling foreign interference and transnational crime – a priority that Liberal MPs said Wednesday is out of step with inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. bin Salman. In 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh-Canadian advocate for the carving out of an independent state of Khalistan in India, was killed in B.C. Mr. Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, publicly accused India of orchestrating the slaying, though New Delhi has denied the allegation. Four Indian nationals have been charged in the case. The foreign-interference inquiry also cited instances of Indian-state meddling in Canadian democratic processes. Opinion: Carney should know it's way too soon to invite Modi to Canada In 2018, Ottawa imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for the slaying of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey. U.S. media later reported that the CIA believes Mr. bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, ordered Mr. Khashoggi's killing – contradicting Riyadh's assertion that he was not involved. Gurbux Saini, a B.C. Liberal MP, said the G7 invitations of Mr. Modi and Mr. bin Salman undermine Canada's reputation. 'It is a damaging thing because we have been known in the world as caring and compassionate people who love human rights, and this is something the Prime Minister is aware of and it has been brought to his attention,' Mr. Saini said on his way into the party's weekly caucus meeting Wednesday. Mr. Carney did not answer questions from reporters Wednesday about the invite to Mr. bin Salman. But last week, Mr. Carney said it made sense for India to be at the table, as it is one of the largest economies in the world and central to global supply chains. He wouldn't comment on the allegations levelled by his predecessor against India, saying 'the rule of law is proceeding as it should,' and that he wasn't going to comment. But he said the invitation to Mr. Modi was extended in the context of continuing dialogue between law enforcement in both countries. Some MPs said Wednesday that, while they understand the imperative of engaging economically and diplomatically with India and Saudi Arabia, there has to be a wider discussion of the issues. 'These are important economic relationships to have,' said Karina Gould, who ran against Mr. Carney for Liberal leadership earlier this year. 'But that being said, as Canada, we also have certain values that are important to us, and when it comes to human rights, when it comes to standing up and protecting Canadian citizens on our soil, but also ensuring that freedom exists around the world, that that's a message that we should be passing along to both Prime Minister Modi as well as the Crown Prince.'
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Media advisory - Government of Canada officials to provide technical briefing on the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit
OTTAWA, ON , June 11, 2025 /CNW/ - Media are invited to a virtual briefing by senior government officials on the priorities for the upcoming G7 Leader's Summit being held in Kananaskis from June 15-17, 2025 . Information provided at the technical briefing is for attribution to senior officials. Video and audio recording of the briefing for the purpose of broadcast is prohibited. Event: Technical Briefing Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025 Time: 9:30 a.m. EDT Location: Virtual Details: This event is for accredited members of the Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may contact pressres2@ for temporary access.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Carney facing pushback for Modi invitation
Vancouver Watch An invitation to India's prime minister is raising alarm in the Sikh community.
