It was not just about what he said.

It was also the softness of his voice, posture of humility and determination to listen that made indelible impressions on Indigenous peoples as they observed Pope Francis during his historical penitential pilgrimage to Canada from July 24-29, 2022.

Fr. Cristino Bouvette, the Canadian Catholic priest of Cree, Métis and Italian heritage who served as national liturgical director for the papal visit, said the late pontiff determinedly ensured he would not be rushed away from the people.

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“Consistently, everywhere we brought him, he took extra time that was not allotted, and in a manner not planned for to greet people, be present with them and listen to them,” said the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Strathmore, Alta. “There was a real graciousness about how he carried himself that way.”

Indeed, there were legitimate safety concerns about the Pope engaging in too many off-script, extemporaneous encounters, but his determination won the day. Bouvette said this “was a testament to what he knew he was here to do. He was here to meet with people and try and strengthen bonds and connections that were already present, but which I think were strengthened by his witness.”

Lisa Raven, the executive director and Indigenous trainer of the Returning to Spirit reconciliation workshops non-profit organization, remarked on the emotive impact of Pope Francis making the historic apology in Maskwacis, Alta., on July 25, 2022.

“That presence for me was really powerful and I thought it was symbolic,” said Raven, a residential school survivor. “A global religious leader coming to Indigenous territory, and coming in humility, not authority. My mother and I were holding hands during the apology, and I think what was incredibly moving was not just the apology itself, but really naming the Church’s involvement.”

Rosella Kinoshameg, an Odawa/Ojibway elder who lives in the Wikwemikong First Nations Reserve near Manitoulin Island, Ont., reread all the homilies Pope Francis delivered during his penitential pilgrimage and found it “inspiring as he had so much compassion for the people.”

“That is how he was,” said Kinoshameg. “He was really humble. Who would want to be wheeled down in a wheelchair? I said it sure shows his humility to be wheeled down to go and meet the people.”

Kinoshameg is the board chair of the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF), a not-for-profit organization in collaboration with the Canadian bishops that funds projects that promote healing and reconciliation for communities and families, kindle culture and language revitalization, champion education and community building, and foster dialogues for promoting Indigenous spirituality and culture.

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Canadian Catholic dioceses have raised over $20.1 million of the five-year $30 million goal established in 2022. Over 200 initiatives have been brought to life thanks to the IRF.

IRF director Graydon Nicholas, a Wolastoqey Indigenous elder who served as lieutenant governor of New Brunswick from 2009-14, said moments that he cherished about the Pope’s visit were particular passages of his speeches.

“At (Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples) in Edmonton — this is beautiful — he compared the teepee and tabernacle in terms of Scripture,” recalled Nicholas.

Pope Francis said this on July 25, 2022: “The teepee reminds us that God accompanies us on our journey and loves to meet us together, in assembly, in council... And when He became man, the Gospel tells us, He literally ‘pitched His tent among us.’ God is a God of closeness, and in Jesus, He teaches us the language of compassion and tender love. That is what we should call to mind every time that we enter a church, where Jesus is present in the tabernacle, a word that itself originally meant ‘tent.’ ”

Nicholas added “that the words he used were very profound” at the Lac Ste. Anne, Alta., pilgrimage site during the trip. He communicated a message about the importance of listening to Indigenous Canadians.

“When looking at the indigenous peoples and thinking of their history and the pain that they endured, what do I do for Indigenous peoples?” asked the Pope. “Do I merely listen with curiosity, horrified by what happened in the past, or do I do something concrete for them? Do I pray, meet, read, support them and let myself be touched by their stories?”

Nicholas commended the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops for building upon the Pope’s message by releasing a series of four pastoral letters in February 2023, titled “That We May Walk Together.” These missives, addressed to the First Nations, Inuit, Métis and non-Indigenous Catholics were published with the intent of providing a framework for further reconciliatory engagement and dialogue.

Signs abound that Pope Francis' penitential pilgrimage bore, and continues to bear, promising fruits. Continuing purposeful dialogue represents a triumph, said Bouvette.

“There is something to be said about that we’re still talking about this,” said Bouvette. “It would have been easy for us to check off ‘okay, call to action 58 from the (Truth and Reconciliation Commission), done, okay, moving on.’ But that is not what we’ve done. We are striving to continue reflecting on that.”

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Bouvette added that he is happy to still see the logo developed for the papal visit — praised by Vatican officials for its originality — on t-shirts, coffee mugs and bumper stickers.

“That circle is a symbol to us of this being something ongoing and that, I think, captures the spirit of what Francis wanted.”