The Vatican has officially announced that the funeral for Pope Francis will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square. This event is set to occur just two days prior to Canada's federal election. Although attendance at such a significant religious event is customary for prime ministers, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has yet to confirm whether Mark Carney will suspend his campaign activities to attend the funeral. A PMO spokesperson, Emily Williams, indicated that details regarding Canada’s representation at the funeral will be revealed in due course.
The public viewing of Pope Francis's remains is scheduled to commence on Wednesday at St. Peter's Basilica. His casket will be transported by procession from the Vatican hotel where he resided before his death, which was attributed to stroke and heart failure at the age of 88, occurring shortly after the conclusion of Holy Week.
In Canada, tributes to Pope Francis are unfolding, with notable ceremonies being organized in major cities. Cardinal Frank Leo, the newly appointed Archbishop of Toronto, is set to lead a mass this afternoon at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica to honor the late pontiff. Following the service, he will address the media. Cardinal Leo, one of the last group of cardinals elevated by Pope Francis in December, is also scheduled to preside over an evening prayer dedicated to the pope. Meanwhile, in Montreal, Archbishop Christian Lépine will lead a requiem mass at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, followed by a vigil.
As Pope Francis's legacy is discussed, some Canadian church leaders have expressed hopes that his successor will prioritize inclusion within the Catholic Church, particularly concerning LGBTQ+ individuals. Serge Quevillon, visiting the Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, recalled the pope's significant 2013 statement, “Who am I to judge?” when addressing questions about homosexuality. With Pope Francis's passing, there is a call for a continued movement toward inclusivity for LGBTQ+ people in the Catholic community.
On the political front, with less than a week remaining before voting day, all federal party leaders are intensifying their campaign efforts. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is poised to announce his party's platform today, while the Liberal and NDP parties released theirs over the previous weekend. Poilievre outlined a homebuilding initiative in Toronto, promising to construct 2.3 million homes across Canada in the next five years. In contrast, Liberal Leader Mark Carney focused on health care reforms during his visit to Charlottetown, highlighting measures to address the shortage of primary care providers. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced plans in Nanaimo, B.C., to expand pharmacare to cover essential medicines by the end of the year.
Additionally, significant legal proceedings are about to unfold in Canada as jury selection is set to begin today in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team: Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton. These players face charges related to an incident that allegedly occurred in London, Ontario, in June 2018 during a Hockey Canada gala celebrating their gold-medal victory in the world junior tournament. All five players are expected to plead not guilty, with McLeod facing an additional charge related to being a party to the alleged assault.
