An Indigenous delegation to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis to talk about reconciliation and healing has been rescheduled for early spring.
The trip was put on hold a week before it was to take place in December because of uncertainty posed by the quickly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19.
A joint statement from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and Indigenous groups says the meeting is to take place the week of March 28.
A final audience with the Pope is set for April 1.
The plan is for 25 to 30 Indigenous people — including elders, residential school survivors and youth — to meet with him. Indigenous delegates will also be able to share their expectations for a papal visit to Canada.
Last year, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis was willing to make that pilgrimage. Indigenous leaders have said that would have to come with an apology.