Vancouver: Pope Francis has apologized for the Catholic Church’s cooperation with Canada’s “devastating” policy of Indigenous residential schools and the atrocities inflicted on children over the past century in Canada.
He said on the sidelines of a programme held near Arminskin Indian Residential School that he apologises for the atrocities committed by the Christians against the tribal people.
For a long time people had been waiting for the Pope to apologise to them. This is expected to heal the wounds of the victims and also makes it possible for the church to reconcile with the Aboriginal people.
He interacted with the leaders of the tribals. He was earlier received by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon after arriving at Edmonton Airport.
Pope Francis will be in Canada for about a week. It may be recalled that the ancestors of tribals were allegedly subjected to torture before they were forcibly admitted to Indian residential schools run by Catholic churches during the last century in their childhood.
Those who died due to torture were buried without any trace of them.