In the news today: Toronto, Montreal archbishops to hold mass for Pope Francis

By Canadian Press on April 22, 2025.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Toronto, Montreal archbishops to hold mass for Pope Francis

Canada’s newest cardinal will lead a mass in honour of Pope Francis this afternoon.

Cardinal Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, will preside at a mass for the repose of the soul of the pontiff at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica before meeting with the media.

The Vatican announced yesterday that Francis had died of a stroke and heart failure at age 88, just after the end of Holy Week.

Leo was among the last group of cardinals Francis elevated into the role back in December, and one of five cardinals from Canada. He will also preside over an evening prayer for the late pope.

In Montreal, Archbishop Christian Lépine will preside over an evening requiem mass at the Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, followed by a vigil.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Ministers ask new pope to do more for LGBTQ people

Serge Quevillon made it a point Monday to visit Montreal’s Mary Queen of the World Cathedral to pay respect to Pope Francis.

Speaking outside the cathedral, he said he vividly remembers a question the pope was asked in June 2013.

“He was asked, ‘What do you think about homosexuality?’ And he gave the nicest, most incredible comment: Who am I to judge?” Quevillon told The Canadian Press.

Pope Francis died Monday at the Vatican at age 88. The Vatican said he had a stroke.

Some Canadian church leaders say they hope his replacement does more to advance the church’s inclusion of LGBTQ+ people.

Early in his papacy, the pope, unlike his predecessors, showed more tolerance and acceptance for LGBTQ+ people, delivering in 2013 the landmark line “Who am I to judge?” when asked about a gay priest.

Tories expected to release their platform today

As the federal election campaign nears its end with less than a week to go before voting day, all federal party leaders are making their last pitches to Canadians on why they deserve their vote.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to unveil his party’s platform today, while the Liberals and NDP already released theirs over the weekend.

Poilievre spent Monday in Toronto and announced a homebuilding plan, pledging to build 2.3 million homes over the next five years.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney spent his time in Charlottetown Monday talking about his health-care plan and efforts to address Canada’s shortage of primary-care providers.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh started his day in Nanaimo, B.C., where he promised to cover “essential medicines” by the end of the year in an expansion of pharmacare.

Jury selection to start in hockey players’ trial

Jury selection is expected to begin today in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team.

Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged with sexual assault early last year in an incident that allegedly took place in London, Ont., in June 2018.

McLeod is facing an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault.

All five players are expected to plead not guilty.

The charges relate to an incident that allegedly occurred as many of the team’s members were in London for a Hockey Canada gala celebrating their gold-medal win at that year’s world junior tournament.

Manitoba First Nation elects first female chief

Tréchelle Bunn has had a whirlwind month.

She wrapped up her two-year tenure as one of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization youth chiefs, finished her second year of law school at the University of Manitoba and received an Indspire award for her work in Indigenous communities at a ceremony in Vancouver.

Then an election held the day Bunn returned to Manitoba from B.C. put the young woman in the history books.

On April 10, Bunn was voted in as chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, marking the first time the community located near the Saskatchewan boundary has elected a female leader.

At age 25, Bunn is also the youngest person elected as chief in her community and is believed to be one of the youngest sitting chiefs in the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2025.

The Canadian Press