Papal visit: it will be difficult to see the pope in Quebec

Those who hope to see the pope in person during his visit to Quebec will have to light a lantern and pray hard because it will be difficult to see the Holy Father in the flesh in the Old Capital.

Papal visit: it will be difficult to see the pope in Quebec

Those who hope to see the pope in person during his visit to Quebec will have to light a lantern and pray hard because it will be difficult to see the Holy Father in the flesh in the Old Capital.

• Read also: Visit to Quebec: the Pope will not go to the Plains

• To read also: Visit of the pope: "we must not make it a missed appointment"

The organizing committee of the papal visit to Quebec communicated on Wednesday the information relating to the various events.

With the exception of the movements of the sovereign pontiff, the faithful will have to content themselves with watching the head of the Catholic Church on giant screens on July 27 and 28.

The only tickets made available to the public will be those for the outdoor site in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, during the long-awaited mass at the basilica. The space will accommodate 10,000 people and 70% of tickets are reserved for members of indigenous communities. Two thousand free passes will be made available to the public, who will be able to obtain them on Monday July 11 at 12:30 p.m. [see box]. The other 1000 tickets are reserved for diocesan delegations.

The culminating moment of the visit of the Holy Father, the mass at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré will welcome 1,400 people by invitation.

On the Plains

Participants who do not have tickets for the outdoor site will have to fall back on the Plains of Abraham, open to all. Giant screens will broadcast live the arrival of the pope, his speech at the Citadel and the mass.

“It is a visit that is made to be part of the process of justice, healing and reconciliation of indigenous peoples. The objective is that the survivors of the residential schools, their families and the victims have the first access”, explained the president of the organizing committee of the papal visit to Quebec, Benoît Thibault.

The latter does not exclude the possibility that a few other banknotes may be put into circulation later “depending on the response and the needs that will be expressed.”

“The objective is that it can be seen”

The faithful could, however, greet the pope during his rare trips, especially between the airport and the Citadel and when he goes to the Beaupré coast. “If this option is safe, we will communicate at some point the Pope's journey. […] We want people to be able to see it pass, ”said Mr. Thibault.

But for the moment, it is impossible to know whether Pope Francis will travel aboard a popemobile or in another vehicle. "The objective is that he can be seen and that it can be done while respecting his health condition and the safety elements."

Sector to avoid

The Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré sector will be avoided when the Pope comes and Benoît Thibault asks people who do not have tickets to avoid the sector.

"If you don't have tickets, don't come. The sector will not be accessible,” he said.

The transport of the faithful will be done from shuttles which will embark people from incentive parking lots. The details of the transport will be communicated soon according to Mr. Thibault.

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