‘Rescind the Doctrine’ protest greets pope in Canada

A banner displayed during Mass at the National Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre in Quebec City, Canada (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Thursday at Canada’s national shrine and came face-to-face with a long-standing demand from Indigenous peoples.

They want him to formally rescind the papal decrees underpinning the so-called “Doctrine of Discovery” that seemingly legitimised the colonial-era seizure of Native lands and resources.