A First Nations leader says a trip by an Indigenous delegation set to travel to the Vatican later this month has been postponed due to COVID-19.

According to The Canadian Press, Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald made the announcement to a virtual gathering of chiefs Tuesday morning.

Archibald said the trip has been postponed because of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis agreed to meet with residential school survivors who are calling for a papal apology for the Catholic Church’s role in the abuse and deaths of thousands of children.

A group of 25 to 30 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Elders, knowledge keepers, residential school survivors, and youth were scheduled to travel to Rome to meet with the Pope from Dec. 17 to 20.

Pope Francis was to participate in private meetings with the representatives from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities to hear their personal stories of the tragedies that occurred in residential schools across Canada.