Pope apologizes for church’s role in residential schools

Indigenous delegates from Canada got what they were seeking during a visit to Rome this week: An apology from the Pope.

Pope Francis delivered the apology Friday in front of dozens of members from Metis, Inuit and First Nations communities for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in residential schools, saying he was “ashamed” and “indignant” at all that had transpired at the schools.

Speaking through a translator, the Pontiff said he feels sorrow and shame for the role that a number of Catholics played in the abuses suffered by Canada’s Indigenous communities.

“Today is a day that we’ve been waiting for and certainly one that will be uplifted in our history,” Chief Gerald Antoine, the head of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) delegation, told reporters. “His Holiness, Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, has issued a long-overdue apology for the Roman Catholic role in church-run residential schools.”

“Behind the cover-ups, behind the indifference over 100 years, behind the lies, behind the lack of justice, this Pope, Pope Francis, decided to go right through it and decided to speak words that First Nations, Inuit and Metis have been longing to hear for decades,” added Inuit leader Natan Obed.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) posted a photo on Twitter of the Pope’s written address.

“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’m sorry,” it read.

“I have been enriched by your words and even more by your testimonies. You have brought here, to Rome, a living sense of your communities.”

The Pope will apologize to Indian Residential School survivors and travel to Canada. pic.twitter.com/geS1Mdt7CJ

— FSIN (@fsinations) April 1, 2022

Metis National Council president Cassidy Caron was sitting with Angie Crerar, a survivor of residential schools, as Pope Francis delivered his apology.

“When Angie and I were sharing a book and reading the book together, I pointed out the words ‘I am sorry’ and she broke down into tears,” Caron said.

“It was so moving because I know how important that is to her and I know how important those words are going to be to our survivors back at home, which is why we will continue to advocate for Pope Francis to share those words, those sentiments, what he has learned and what he has heard from us back on our homelands.”

During his address, Francis vowed to deliver an apology in person during a future visit to Canada.

A date has not been set for the trip, but delegates said it could be as soon as this summer.

The apology has been called for since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its 94 calls to action in 2015. The need for the trip was accelerated after unmarked graves were found on the former sites of residential schools in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the pontiff’s apology Friday was the result of years of effort by Indigenous people across the country.

“This apology would not have happened without the long advocacy of survivors, who journeyed to tell their truths directly to the institution responsible and recounted and relived their painful memories,” Trudeau said. “It took a tremendous amount of bravery and determination.

“Today’s apology is a step forward in acknowledging the truth of our past in order to right historical wrongs,” the prime minister added, “but there’s still work to be done.”

— With files from The Canadian Press