OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is flying to Italy, where he is set to attend Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass on Sunday.
The inaugural mass, which serves as a swearing-in of sorts for a new pope, is drawing many international leaders and Carney is expected to have bilateral meetings with several of them during the trip.
The Prime Minister's Office has confirmed that Carney will meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Carney is a devout Catholic but was unable to attend Pope Francis's funeral on April 26 because it fell two days before the federal election.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, French Prime Minister François Bayrou and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are among those who have confirmed they're attending, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prince Edward.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak and Métis National Council president Victoria Pruden are travelling with the Canadian delegation, as well as more than a dozen members of Parliament and senators.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.
Nick Murray, The Canadian Press
