Pope apologizes to indigenous people of Canada

By Hada Messia and Alex Hardie, CNN

Pope Francis has apologized for the Catholic Church’s role in the abuse of Canada’s indigenous people, particularly in residential schools.

Speaking to Canadian indigenous leaders Friday in the Vatican, the Pope said that he feels “sorrow and shame for the role that a number of Catholics, particularly those with educational responsibilities, have had in all these things that wounded you, in the abuses you suffered and in the lack of respect shown for your identity, your culture and even your spiritual values.”

“All these things are contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask for God’s forgiveness and I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sorry,” the Pope continued. “And I join my brothers, the Canadian bishops, in asking your pardon.”

Pope Francis also told the representatives of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit delegations that he will visit Canada.

“I will be happy to benefit again from meeting you when I visit your native lands, where your families live. I won’t come in the winter! So, I will close by saying, ‘Until we meet again’ in Canada, where I will be able better to express to you my closeness,” he said.

Indigenous leaders have long called for a papal apology for the harm inflicted for decades on Indigenous children. Last year, hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered on the grounds of former residential schools in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission has reported that more than 4,000 Indigenous children died either from neglect or abuse in residential schools, many of which were run by the Catholic Church.

Last year, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops apologized for its role in the residential school system and expressed “profound remorse,” but Indigenous leaders have long called for an apology from the Pope.

On Monday, the pope met with Indigenous leaders and survivors of residential schools. At the Vatican, representatives for the Métis and Inuit, some of the largest Indigenous groups in Canada, urged Pope Francis to travel to their country to apologize.

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From CNN’s Hada Messia in Rome and Alex Hardie in London. Nicole Chavez contributed.