Pope Francis has delivered a formal apology for the grave harms caused by Canada’s residential schools.
In a livestreamed audience with more than 170 Indigenous survivors, elders, knowledge keepers, youth and community leaders on Friday, he said he was “deeply grieved” by stories of abuse, hardship and discrimination he heard throughout the week.
“All this made me feel two things very strongly — indignation and shame,” he said. “Indignation, because it is not right to accept evil, and even worse to grow accustomed to evil as if it were an inevitable part of the historical process.
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“All these things are contrary to gospel of Jesus Christ. For the deplorable conduct of these 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.”
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The pope promised to come to Canada to visit families on their native lands. He did not say whether he would apologize again on Canadian soil, as has been requested by residential school survivors.
More to come.
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