April 1, 2022
Pope Francis met in Rome this week with representatives of Canada’s Indigenous community. Between March 28 and April 1, the pope held additional meetings with delegates from the First Nations, Métis National Council and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. They were accompanied by several Bishops from the Canadian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. According to the Vatican, the audiences were an opportunity for Pope Francis to “listen and to offer space for the painful stories shared by the survivors.”
During the meeting on April 1, the pope apologized, “expressing ‘sorrow and shame’ for the complicity of Catholics in abusing Indigenous children in Canada and helping in the attempt to erase their culture.” (Catholic News Service) The pope pledged to address the issue more fully when he visits Canada and made mention of the July 26 feast day of St. Anne, saying “I would like to be with you in those days.”
Excerpt from Pope Francis’ April 1 message:
“All this has made me feel two things very strongly: indignation and shame. 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. No! Without real indignation, without historical memory and without a commitment to learning from past mistakes, problems remain unresolved and keep coming back. We can see this these days in the case of war. The memory of the past must never be sacrificed at the altar of alleged progress.
I also feel shame. I have said this to you and now I say it again. I feel shame – 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. And I join my brothers, the Canadian bishops, in asking your pardon. Clearly, the content of the faith cannot be transmitted in a way contrary to the faith itself: Jesus taught us to welcome, love, serve and not judge; it is a frightening thing when, precisely in the name of the faith, counter-witness is rendered to the Gospel.”
Click here to read the full statement on the Vatican website. (multiple languages)
Also read: Canada’s indigenous delegations: ‘Pope Francis listened to our pain’ (Vatican News, March 28)
