Pope Francis: Apologize for ‘indigenous genocide’ of Canadian Indigenous people

Pope Francis today apologized to Indigenous Canadians for the role the Catholic Church played in the dormitories where it tried to “erase” their culture but also where many children were abused and buried in anonymous graves.

After meeting with representatives of various indigenous tribes, the pope also said he hoped to visit Canada this July.

One of the delegates, who wants the pope to apologize directly to Indigenous communities in their Canadian territories, called his speech “historic.”

“For the reprehensible behavior of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask God for forgiveness and I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart that I am in great pain,” said Francis. Earlier, in the Vatican’s Sala Clementina, an indigenous leader prayed in his own language and asked the “great spirit” to bless those present.

About 150,000 children were forcibly removed from their families. Many were abused, raped or starved to death, and the Truth and Reconciliation Committee described the practice as a “cultural genocide” in its 2015 report. assimilation “of the natives. Most operated by the Catholic and Anglican Churches on behalf of the government.

Francis said he would like to visit Canada around July 26, on the feast of St. Anne, which is highly valued by Catholic natives. “I would like to be with you this day. I will not come in the winter!” he joked, causing the audience to laugh.

The remains of 215 children were discovered last year at a former Indigenous school in Kamloops, British Columbia, which had been closed since 1978. Hundreds of other anonymous indigenous graves have been found since then.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ