Pope asks forgiveness for violence against indigenous people in Canada

The pope Francis asked forgiveness for violence against indigenous children in Catholic boarding schools in Canada. In a public audience with Canadian natives and bishops the pope expressed feelings of shame, pain and indignation. Furthermore, he added that this is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus. “All this aroused in me two feelings: indignation and shame..”

According to Vatican News, during this week, the Pontiff had meetings with the First Nations, Métis and Inuit groups, who suffered the consequences of colonization, in which the last public episode was the discovery of mass graves on the land of Kamloops Indian. Residential School.

During his speech the pope said he listened carefully to the testimonies and thanked them for opening their hearts. Francis also reported that “without indignation, memory and commitment to learn from mistakes, problems are not solved, as the war we see these days proves”.

At the end of the audience, the Pope wished that the meetings of these days could open ways to encourage bishops and local Catholics to seek the transparency of the truth, promoting the healing of wounds. Finally, the pope stated that he prays for the indigenous people and asked them to do the same for him. “The Church is with you and wants to continue to walk with you”.

“Through the voices of the brothers and sisters of Indigenous Canadians, I have heard the stories of suffering, deprivation, discriminatory treatment and various forms of abuse suffered, particularly in residential schools. I carry these stories with a lot of sadness in my heart.”