Live Updates: Pope Francis arrives at Edmonton International Airport Sunday

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EDMONTON — Pope Francis arrived in Canada on Sunday to an honour drum song ahead of what he describes as a “penitential” trip aimed at reconciliation with Indigenous people for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools.

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The drum group from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation sang in front of Francis as he sat between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at an airport hangar in Edmonton.

The Pope told reporters on the plane before it landed that the six-day visit must be handled with care.

The pontiff is also set to travel to Quebec City and Iqaluit.

“I hope, with God’s grace, that my penitential pilgrimage might contribute to the journey of reconciliation already undertaken. Please accompany me with #prayer,” said a message on the Pope’s Twitter account.

An elevator was used to get the Pope off the plane, and he went for a short ride in a Fiat to the hangar. He then got into a wheelchair and was taken to a red carpet for the official welcome ceremony.

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— The Canadian Press

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12 p.m.

Crowd gathers along Ellerslie Road to greet Pope Francis

A crowd of well-wishers gathered along Ellerslie Road over Gateway Boulevard to watch Pope Francis as his motorcade arrived in Edmonton on Sunday.

“It’s, like, once-in-a-lifetime to meet the Pope,” said Caroline Puyat, a Catholic, who was one of about 40 people gathered along the overpass. “It’s really important that he’s coming over here for healing and reconciliation and hope.”

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“He’s one of the most famous people in the world so why wouldn’t you come out and have a look and see what it’s all about,” said Brian Rothwell, who said he’s not a Catholic himself but that the Pope’s trip is an important one.

“I think that it’s needed,” said Rothwell. “I think coming from a top level like that means a lot to the Indigenous people, really.”

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Kenney welcomes Pope in message

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The Alberta government issued a statement welcoming Pope Francis to the province timed to coincide with the scheduled landing of the pontiff’s flight at Edmonton International Airport, about 11:20 a.m. Sunday.

“It is a great honour to welcome His Holiness Pope Francis to Alberta on his pilgrimage of prayer, penitence, healing and reconciliation,” Premier Jason Kenney said in the release. “While his presence among us is of historic significance to Alberta Catholics, the papal visit is a blessing for all Albertans, beginning with Indigenous Peoples.

“Edmonton, our capital, is proud to host a third papal visit and the first visit of Pope Francis to Canada.”

Kenney said Pope John Paul II’s visit to Fort Simpson, in the southwest of the Northwest Territories, in 1987 could be viewed as an “initial step toward reconciliation before we even knew the full need for it.

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“The painful legacy of residential schools, which is the focus of this papal visit to Alberta, requires both expressions of remorse and concrete actions,” Kenney continued. “The visit of Pope Francis is both, and the Province of Alberta is proud to host it.

“May it be an occasion of both truth and reconciliation, to which the government and people of Alberta are committed.”

11 a.m.

Pope Francis arrives at EIA

By The Canadian Press

EDMONTON — Pope Francis has arrived in Edmonton to start his six-day visit in Canada.

The tour is aimed at reconciliation with Indigenous people for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in residential schools.

The Pope has said he hopes the “penitential” trip will contribute to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

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The 85-year-old, who is to use a wheelchair throughout the tour, is also scheduled to travel to Quebec City and Iqaluit.

Francis is to be greeted at the Edmonton airport by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, as well as other church, Indigenous and political dignitaries.

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The Pope’s plane is scheduled to touch down at Edmonton International Airport at 11:20 a.m. Sunday, marking the start of what’s expected to be a solemn six-day visit to Canada.

Much of that time will be spent in the Edmonton area with events planned for Maskwacis, Lac Ste. Anne and in the city itself between Sunday and Wednesday morning.

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On Tuesday, he will host an open-air mass at Commonwealth Stadium before travelling to Lac Ste. Anne in the late afternoon.

All tickets have been registered for the Pope’s mass at Commonwealth Stadium, organizers say, but add that it’s not too late for Indigenous survivors of residential schools to register to attend other events.

“If there are folks … for whom coming to Maskwacis or Lac Ste. Anne is an important part of their healing journey, we will take you,” said visit organizer Steven Kwasny.

Below is a rundown of the Pope’s itinerary while in Alberta.

Sunday — July 24

Pope Francis’ A330 will depart Rome at 9 a.m. local time and is scheduled to land at Edmonton International Airport at 11:20 a.m.

He’ll be officially greeted by a party including residential school survivors as well as Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Jason Kenney and Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

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The Pope’s motorcade will travel north, prompting rolling road closures on the QEII to St. Joseph Seminary where the Pope will stay during his visit.

Monday — July 25

In the morning, the Pope will travel south to Maskwacis, arriving at 9:45 a.m., where he’ll visit the former Ermineskin Residential School. He’s scheduled to spend about two hours in the community before travelling back to Edmonton.

There will again be rolling closures of parts of the QEII as well as on Highway 2A and along Highway 611 throughout the day.

At 4:45 p.m., Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive at the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Downtown Edmonton for an hour-long visit. Various nearby roads will be closed off.

Tuesday — July 26

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Doors at Commonwealth Stadium will open at 7:30 a.m. ahead of the Pope’s 9:30 a.m. open-air mass. Organizers say attendees must be in their seats no later than 8:15 a.m. when the program begins.

That afternoon, the Pope will travel to Lac Ste. Anne, arriving at the pilgrimage site just before 5 p.m. He is scheduled to remain there for about an hour before returning to Edmonton.

Highways 16 and 633 are among those affected by rolling closures throughout the afternoon.

Wednesday — July 27

Pope Francis will make an early-morning trip to the airport ahead of a scheduled 9 a.m. departure.

Once again, parts of the QEII will be restricted as the motorcade travels to the airport.

— With files from Reuters