On July 25th, 2022, Pope Francis visited Sacred Heart of the First Peoples in Edmonton's McCauley neighbourhood as part of his visit to Canada to apologize for the Catholic church's role in the horrors of the residential school system. I was asked to cover the event for both @bmcviews and Alberta Native News. Getting access to the event was quite a process. First, I had to get media accreditation through the federal government, then after that was approved I had to request the specific location I wanted. There were precious few spots for media in the church (we were on the upper balcony) and I found out that I was granted access less than 24 hours prior to the event. As a freelance journalist, I'm always running here, there, and everywhere all days of the week and at all times. My late mother often joked in exasperation, "Where are you going? To see the pope?" If she was still here, for the first time I would have truthfully been able to answer, "Yes." Also, I am probably the only person in Edmonton whose father bragged to our rabbi that his daughter was going to see the pope. All jokes aside, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The most moving moments for me was when the pope become visibly emotional when the music team performed "How Great Thou Art" in English and Cree (and he buried his face in his right hand), and towards the end when an Indigenous drummer offered the pope a song, and the pope, despite being extremely frail and transported in a wheelchair, stood. That said, I know many Indigenous people who have different perspectives and emotions surrounding the pope's visit and apology. I hear you, I see you, and I respect you. May you all find healing. -- #yeg #yegdt #PopeFrancis #WalkingTogether #SacredHeartChurch #McCauley #PhotoJournalism #yegphotographer #edmonton #alberta #canada #bmcnews #CommunityNews #yegwriter https://www.instagram.com/p/CghRbzlLLc9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=