Vatican releases pope’s Canada itinerary in sign trip is on

ROME (AP) — The Vatican has released the itinerary for Pope Francis’ July 24-30 visit to Canada. The publication of the program on Thursday is a sign he intends to go ahead with the trip despite knee problems that forced him to cancel a similarly difficult visit to Africa. Francis is due to visit Canada to apologize to Indigenous peoples for abuses at Catholic-run residential schools. The itinerary includes several encounters with Indigenous groups, including a private meeting with survivors of the schools in remote Iqualuit, where Francis is due to visit for a few hours on his way back to Rome on July 29.Francis, 85, has been using a wheelchair for over a month because of strained ligaments in his right knee that have made standing and walking difficult.