As the sun rises over Quebec City’s historic skyline, Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix stands at his office window contemplating the weight of history. It’s been nearly two years since Pope Francis made his “penitential pilgrimage” to Canada, seeking forgiveness for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools that devastated Indigenous communities for generations.
“This journey continues,” Cardinal Lacroix tells me during our interview at his residence near the Basilica-Cathedral Notre-Dame de Québec. “The Pope’s visit wasn’t an endpoint—it was a beginning.”
The Cardinal’s reflections come at a critical moment as Canadian Catholic leaders implement commitments made during the Pope’s historic 2022 visit. That journey marked the first time a pontiff formally apologized on Canadian soil for the Church’s role in the residential school system that separated some 150,000 Indigenous children from their families between the 1880s and 1996.
“When Pope Francis knelt to kiss the hand of residential school survivor Alma Desjarlais in Edmonton, that wasn’t symbolic—that was transformation in action,” Lacroix says, referencing one of the most powerful moments of the papal visit. “Now we must turn those gestures into lasting change.”
The Archbishop of Quebec outlines concrete steps taken in his archdiocese since the papal visit. His office has established a reconciliation fund that’s disbursed approximately $320,000 to Indigenous-led healing initiatives. They’ve also launched educational programs within Catholic schools addressing residential school history and partnered with Huron-Wendat Nation elders on cultural awareness training for clergy.
These efforts reflect a delicate balance in Quebec, where the province’s Catholic heritage remains significant despite declining church attendance. Recent Statistics Canada figures show weekly Mass attendance in Quebec at just 14 percent, compared to 90 percent in the early 1960s—yet 53 percent still identify as Catholic.
Wilton Littlechild, former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner who welcomed the Pope in Maskwacis, Alberta, appreciates the Quebec initiatives but emphasizes the need for more. “Cardinal Lacroix’s work represents good progress, but reconciliation requires sustained commitment across generations,” Littlechild explains via telephone. “Each diocese must address this locally while understanding it’s part of a national healing journey.”
The reconciliation work comes amid challenging times for Quebec’s Catholic Church. The archdiocese recently announced financial restructuring due to declining donations, with potential parish consolidations affecting remote communities. However, Lacroix insists reconciliation efforts won’t be compromised.
“We cannot separate financial challenges from our moral obligations,” he states firmly. “If anything, this moment calls us to refocus on what truly matters—and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples absolutely matters.”
Jacques Watso, council member for the Abenaki First Nation at Odanak, remains cautiously optimistic about the Church’s commitment. “Words matter, but actions prove sincerity,” Watso tells me when we meet at a community center in his territory. “We’ve heard apologies before. What makes this different is what happens after the cameras leave.”
Watso specifically points to ongoing disputes over access to Church archives containing crucial residential school records. While some dioceses have opened their records, others cite privacy concerns or jurisdictional issues. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who ran 48 residential schools, promised to release their records but the process has been slower than many survivors hoped.
Cardinal Lacroix acknowledges these frustrations. “The archives question is complex but essential. We’re working with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to establish protocols that respect both privacy laws and survivors’ right to truth.”
This summer, the archdiocese plans to host a gathering bringing together Catholic leaders and Indigenous representatives to discuss next steps. The meeting will coincide with the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré pilgrimage, which has special
