Two people protested once morest the teachings of the Catholic Church at the beginning of a service with Pope Francis in Canada. After entering the Sainte Anne de Beaupré church near Québec on Thursday morning (local time), they held up a poster in front of the altar that said “Rescind the doctrine” in English.
The action was not planned. Meanwhile, the mass, for which around 2,000 people came to the church according to official estimates, continued. Pope Francis looked in the direction of the protesters, who were then led out of the church, as broadcast by Vatican News.
Pope Francis has been in Canada since Sunday to meet with indigenous people and seek forgiveness for abuse and violence by staff once morest indigenous children at boarding schools that were once run by the Catholic Church. Among those present at the church were many indigenous people. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also came.
During his homily, Francis urged the faithful to face scandals. “We too, confronted with the scandal of evil and the body of Christ wounded in the flesh of our indigenous brothers and sisters, have felt deep bitterness and the burden of failure,” said the 85-year-old leader of the Catholic Church. People would have to face the sense of failure and ask themselves: What happened? Francis did not address the protest during his sermon. In the followingnoon (local time) Francis wanted to meet church representatives.