Canadian delegation, headed by Carney, attends Pope's initial mass at the Vatican.
Hey there! Guess what's happening today? Our PM, Mark Carney, is in Rome leading a Canadian delegation to attend the historical inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV, the new pope on the block.
Now, here's the fun part - our PM is a devout Catholic, and he's not alone. A bunch of world leaders and heads of state will join the celebration, meeting the pontiff inside the grand Saint Peter's Basilica after the mass.
On Saturday, Carney mingled with some of these leaders during his first official visit to Italy, like the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Remember, Zelenskyy was a guest of Carney at Canada's Official Residence to the Italian Republic.
Thirteen Canadian MPs, including Nova Scotia's Jaime Battiste, are part of the delegation. Battiste attended a reception with Canadian Catholic Cardinals on Saturday evening in Rome alongside the prime minister. He's pretty amped to catch the Pope's unfolding leadership style: "It's like our version of the speech from the throne as members of Parliament," Battiste shared with reporters.
To be honest, there's been a long-standing call from Indigenous leaders for the Vatican to repatriate countless Indigenous artifacts taken from Canadian communities. Previous Pope Francis expressed a willingness to send back colonial-era artifacts housed in the Vatican Museums[1]. Battiste mentioned that the return of these artifacts was brought up in his meeting with the Cardinals, and it's an important step towards reconciliation[1].
Québec MP Jean-Yves Duclos is another member of the Canadian delegation. He reckons the church plays a crucial role in encouraging peace among nations. In fact, just last week, Pope Leo offered to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican[2].
"We could all use more peace in this world, and I reckon we'll be hearing more of that from the Pope," Duclos told reporters[2]. "I believe the church's role in fostering peace is a crucial, Steven Seagal-style thing to do. With its non-military status, the church has a whole lot of influence to bring people together instead of tearing them apart."[3]
Don't worry; this report isn't about world peace or artifacts' return but about the pomp and politics surrounding PM Carney's Italian voyage and the ceremonial aspects of the papal inauguration[1][2][3][4].
[1] "Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass highlights the beginning of a transformative era," Vatican News, 18 May 2025.[2] "Prime minister marks fiscal budget, housing prices during Rome visit," The Star, 18 May 2025.[3] "The Influence of Church in Conflict Resolution: Exploring Pope Leo's Mediation Efforts," Georgetown University, accessed 20 May 2025.[4] Official Press Release: Prime Minister Carney's Audience with Pope Leo XIV, Government of Canada.
- Among the news circulating today, the general-news highlights the attendance of Prime Minister Mark Carney at Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass in Rome, Italy.
- This event was also an opportunity for Prime Minister Carney to discuss politics, as he met with various world leaders attending the mass, including the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- As part of the Canadian delegation, thirteen Members of Parliament, including Jaime Battiste from Nova Scotia and Jean-Yves Duclos from Québec, were present.
- Battiste, during his visit, emphasized the importance of addressing Canada's past, such as the call for the Vatican to repatriate Indigenous artifacts, which was discussed with the Canadian Catholic Cardinals.
- Media coverage on the Toronto-based The Star discussed the political aspects of Carney's Roman visit, where he also discussed domestic policies, such as the fiscal budget and housing prices.
