{"id":33888,"date":"2022-04-06T14:47:56","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T19:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/pope-makes-historic-apology-to-indigenous-for-canada-abuses\/"},"modified":"2022-04-06T14:47:57","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T19:47:57","slug":"pope-makes-historic-apology-to-indigenous-for-canada-abuses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/pope-makes-historic-apology-to-indigenous-for-canada-abuses\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope makes historic apology to Indigenous for Canada abuses"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/span><\/div>

Pope makes historic apology to Indigenous for Canada abuses <\/strong><\/p>\n

By NICOLE WINFIELD<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

VATICAN CITY (AP) \u2014 Pope Francis on Friday made a historic apology to Indigenous Peoples for the \u201cdeplorable\u201d abuses they suffered in Canada\u2019s Catholic-run residential schools and said he hoped to visit Canada in late July to deliver the apology in person to survivors of the church\u2019s misguided missionary zeal.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Provided by Associated Press Members of the Assembly of First Nations perform in St. Peter\u2019s Square at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Pope Francis has welcomed First Nations delegations to the Vatican. They are seeking an apology for the Catholic Church\u2019s role in running Canada\u2019s notorious residential schools for Indigenous children. (AP Photo\/Alessandra Tarantino)<\/p>\n

Francis begged forgiveness during an audience with dozens of members of the Metis, Inuit and First Nations communities who came to Rome seeking a papal apology and a commitment from the Catholic Church to repair the damage. The first pope from the Americas said he hoped to visit Canada around the Feast of St. Anna, which falls on July 26.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

More than 150,000 native children in Canada were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools from the 19th century until the 1970s in an effort to isolate them from the influence of their homes and culture. The aim was to Christianize and assimilate them into mainstream society, which previous Canadian governments considered superior.<\/p>\n

The Canadian government has admitted that physical and sexual abuse was rampant at the schools, with students beaten for speaking their native languages. That legacy of that abuse and isolation from family has been cited by Indigenous leaders as a root cause of the epidemic rates of alcohol and drug addiction now on Canadian reservations.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Provided by Associated Press From left, Gerald Antoine, First Nations NWT Regional Chief, Natan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami delegation, and Cassidy Caron, President of the Metis community, walk in St. Peter\u2019s Square, at the Vatican, after their meeting with Pope Francis, Friday, April 1, 2022. Pope Francis on Friday made a historic apology to Indigenous Peoples for the \u201cdeplorable\u201d abuses they suffered in Canada\u2019s Catholic-run residential schools and said he hoped to visit Canada in late July to deliver the apology in person to survivors of the church\u2019s misguided missionary zeal. (AP Photo\/Alessandra Tarantino)<\/p>\n

After hearing their stories all week, Francis told the Indigenous that the colonial project ripped children from their families, cutting off their roots, traditions and culture and provoking inter-generational trauma that is still being felt today. He said it was a \u201ccounter-witness\u201d to the same Gospel that the residential school system purported to uphold.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask forgiveness of the Lord,\u201d Francis said. \u201cAnd I want to tell you from my heart, that I am greatly pained. And I unite myself with the Canadian bishops in apologizing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trip to Rome by the Indigenous was years in the making but gained momentum last year after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves outside some of the residential schools in Canada. The three groups of Indigenous met separately with Francis<\/a><\/u> over several hours this week, telling him their stories, culminating with Friday\u2019s audience.<\/p>\n

The president of the Metis National Council, Cassidy Caron, said the Metis elder sitting next her burst into tears upon hearing what she said was a long-overdue apology.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pope\u2019s words today were historic, to be sure. They were necessary, and I appreciate them deeply,\u201d Caron told reporters in St. Peter\u2019s Square. \u201cAnd I now look forward to the pope\u2019s visit to Canada, where he can offer those sincere words of apology directly to our survivors and their families, whose acceptance and healing ultimately matters most.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Provided by Associated Press From left, Gerald Antoine, First Nations NWT Regional Chief, Natan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami delegation, and Cassidy Caron, President of the Metis community, walk in St. Peter\u2019s Square, at the Vatican, after their meeting with Pope Francis, Friday, April 1, 2022. Pope Francis on Friday made a historic apology to Indigenous Peoples for the \u201cdeplorable\u201d abuses they suffered in Canada\u2019s Catholic-run residential schools and said he hoped to visit Canada in late July to deliver the apology in person to survivors of the church\u2019s misguided missionary zeal. (AP Photo\/Alessandra Tarantino)<\/p>\n

First Nations\u2019 Chief Gerald Antoine echoed the sentiment, saying Francis recognized the cultural \u201cgenocide\u201d that had been inflicted on Indigenous.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is a day that we\u2019ve been waiting for. And certainly one that will be uplifted in our history,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a historical first step, however, only a first step.\u201d<\/p>\n

He and other Indigenous leaders said there was far more for the church to do on the path of reconciliation, but that for now Indigenous leaders insisted on being involved in organizing the papal visit to make sure Francis stops in places that hold spiritual importance to their people.<\/p>\n

Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, thanked Francis for addressing all the issues the Indigenous had brought to him. \u201cAnd he did so in a way that really showed his empathy towards the indigenous people of Canada,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Nearly three-quarters of Canada\u2019s 130 residential schools were run by Catholic missionary congregations.<\/p>\n

Last May, the Tk\u2019emlups te Secwepemc Nation announced the discovery of 215 gravesites near Kamloops, British Columbia, that were found using ground-penetrating radar. It was Canada\u2019s largest Indigenous residential school and the discovery of the graves was the first of numerous, similar grim sites across the country.<\/p>\n

Even before the grave sites were discovered, Canada\u2019s Truth and Reconciliation Commission specifically called for a papal apology to be delivered on Canadian soil for the church\u2019s role in the abuses.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Video: Canada\u2019s indigenous peoples seek papal apology (Reuters)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Skip Ad 5<\/p>\n

Video Player is loading.<\/p>\n

Play Video<\/p>\n

Play<\/p>\n

Ad<\/p>\n

Current Time\u00a00:00<\/p>\n

\/<\/p>\n

Duration\u00a01:49<\/p>\n

Loaded: 5.46%<\/p>\n

Unmute<\/p>\n

0<\/p>\n

LQ<\/p>\n