Pope Francis has arrived in Canada on what he calls a “penitential” trip. The Vatican says the trip’s theme is “walking together”. Francis hopes to reconcile with Canada’s indigenous people for the abuse indigenous children suffered at mostly church-run residential schools. Hundreds of possible grave sites have been found at the schools. Catholic missionaries are Read more
Chief Rosanne Casimir of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia has called for the release of documents regarding the former Church-run residential schools as a precondition to a meaningful papal apology when the pope visits Canada. Pope Francis has recently indicated his willingness to visit Canada on a pilgrimage Read more
Survivors of a Canadian system that forced generations of indigenous children into mainly Catholic-run boarding schools won’t be getting an apology from Pope Francis. The Canadian Council of Bishops (CCB) said last week “after carefully considering the request” for an apology, Francis “felt that he could not personally respond”. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed Read more