The head of the Catholic Church traveled to the country to speak with community leaders and formally apologize

O Pope Francis apologized this Monday (25.Jul.2022) the native for abuses committed in Catholic schools for more than 100 years. “I apologize, in particular, for the way in which members of the Church and religious communities collaborated in the project of cultural destruction promoted by the governments which resulted in the residential schools”said the head of Catholic Church.

The pontiff arrived at Canada Sunday (24.Jul.). In the morning, he met with former students from Maskwacis, a community in the province of Alberta. Then he went to the old Ermineskinfez Indian residential school and issued a public apology.

“I’ve been waiting to come here and be with you. Here, in this place, associated with painful memories, I would like to begin what I consider a pilgrimage. A Penitential Pilgrimage »said Francois.

At several points in the speech, the pope reiterated his apologies. He said residential schools were a “disastrous error” it’s a “deplorable evil”.

The sovereign pontiff mentioned the actions carried out in schools. “I think of the stories you told me: the policies that marginalized indigenous peoples, how their languages ​​and cultures were suppressed; about the physical, verbal, psychological and spiritual abuse the children have suffered; of them being taken from their homes [muito novos]”said.

The pope said that asking for forgiveness is the “starting point” and the process should lead to an investigation to help the “residential school survivors will be able to heal from trauma”.

François asked Canadian citizens to accept and respect “identity and experience” indigenous peoples. He said he would continue to encourage Catholic efforts to support communities.

In your Account on Twitter, the pontiff reinforced the apology and transcribed certain passages of the speech.

The pontiff will spend the week in the country. In the next few days, direction Quebec and Iqaluit. Returns to Rome (Italy) on July 30. O Vatican called the trip “Penitential Pilgrimage”.

boarding schools

The policy of erasing indigenous culture was justified “assignment” boarding schools “assimilate” children from communities to Western culture. There were more than 130 institutions spread across the country which started operating in the middle of the 19th century. The last one was closed in 1996, according to the BBC.

In 2021, the allegations drew international attention when graves of potential children were discovered in the area where the Kamloops boarding school was located in the province of British Columbia. It operated until the 1970s. Educational institutions were funded by the Canadian government and most were administered by the Catholic Church.

A report 2015 of the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission showed that approximately 150,000 indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to Catholic schools. The document also estimates that at least 6,000 died in institutions.

At the time, the Commission recommended that the Pope formally apologize to Canada’s Indigenous communities. It was only after the discovery of the potential tombs that the Vatican began to act to comply with the request.

francis apologized for the first time in April. He told the indigenous leaders that the Vatican felt “sadness and shame” by gestures “deplorable” Catholic ministers in schools. He promised that he would go to Canada to meet with the communities.

This report was produced by journalism intern Júlia Mano under the supervision of editor-in-chief Victor Labaki.