By Canadian Press

Indigenous delegation to Vatican has been postponed: AFN national chief

Dec 7, 2021 | 8:53 AM

OTTAWA — Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald says an upcoming Indigenous delegation to the Vatican has been postponed. 

She made the announcement to a virtual gathering of chiefs today.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops announced in June that national Indigenous organizations, including the Assembly of First Nations, would send a delegation to meet with Pope Francis. 

The trip was planned in hopes of seeing the Pope travel to Canada in return and deliver an apology for the role the Catholic Church played in operating the residential school system. 

On Monday, a spokesman for the conference of bishops said it was monitoring the Omicron variant and any changes to plans would be made in consultation with delegates. 

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Archibald says the delegation planned to travel to Rome the week of Dec.18, but that has been postponed because of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. 

“The health and well-being of our delegates, their families and communities is paramount to us and we will not put anyone in harm’s way if we can help it.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2021.

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press