Pope Francis apologizes to indigenous peoples for abuse at Canadian Catholic schools

Pope Francis met Friday with First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegates at the Vatican, where he asked for forgiveness for the abuses that occurred at the schools.

“I want to say to you with all my heart, I am very sorry, and I join my brothers, the Canadian bishops, in asking your pardon.” He added, “For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask forgiveness of the Lord.”

“And I want to tell you from my heart, that I am greatly pained. And I unite myself with the Canadian bishops in apologizing.” Pope Francis ended his statement by promising to visit Canada.

Nearly 150,000 Indigenous children are believed to have been forced away from their families into the schools, which were set up to convert them to Christianity and assimilate them into mainstream society. Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission had described the education scheme as nothing short of “cultural genocide.”

“Today is a day that we’ve been waiting for and certainly one that will be uplifted in our history,” said Dene National Chief Gerald Antoine, who helped lead the delegation. “It’s a historical first step. However, only a first step.”

“The next step is for the Holy Father to apologize to our family at their home,” Antoine continued. “We seek to hear his words. They also seek the words of apology at home.”