Denis Coderre to invite Pope Francis to Montreal in 2017

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre will try to convince Pope Francis to visit Montreal in 2017 when the city celebrates its 375th birthday, Radio-Canada has learned.

In an interview from Rome, Coderre told Radio-Canada he will meet with the leader of the Catholic Church Wednesday morning.

For the 375th [anniversary], we thought of inviting the Pope to Montreal. He can also go to Quebec City. I spoke to my friend (Quebec City Mayor) Rgis [Labeaume], Coderre said.

The Catholic Church is a pillar in the founding of Montreal. Whether we are believers or not, the Pope's message of peace has an impact," Coderre said, adding that many Catholic leaders in Montreal are in favour of the idea.

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We have a lot of support from people, such as the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and Cardinal Grald Cyprien Lacroix...The first step will be to invite him toMontreal, but we hear only good things about a possible visit.

Coderre, who wasinvited bythe Archbishop of Montreal Christian Lpine, will meet the Popeduring the weekly Papal Audiencesat the Vatican.

Coderre is on a mission in Europe.He spent the past three days in France. Today he visited the kosher grocery store in Paristhat was the scene of a deadly terrorist attack.