Reconciliation

in Rome

From March 28 to April 1, 2022, residential school survivors and leaders from national Indigenous organizations met with Pope Francis in Vatican City, Italy.

 

 

The main focus for most of the delegates was to talk about the effects that the residential school system had on them, their families and their communities.

 

 

While many topics were up for discussion, one of the most requested was for the pontiff to come to Canada and issue an apology for the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system.

 

 

APTN News’ Tina House and Simon Charland were in Rome covering the delegates and sharing the top stories from each day. See daily updates and features on the trip on this page.

‘We are stronger now’: Métis and Inuit delegates have their moment with the pope

The experience of Métis residential school students is not well known but that changed Monday when Pope Francis heard firsthand from Métis residential school survivor Angie Crerar of Grand Prairie, Alta.

Horrific abuses of residential school shared by Métis and Inuit delegation at the Vatican

The Métis and Inuit delegation have wrapped up their meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. They shared with him how the horrific abuses they suffered at residential schools still affect their lives.

Indigenous delegations remain in Rome meeting with Pope Francis

The Indigenous delegation remains
in Rome meeting with Pope Francis
and Catholic Church officials.

Kúkpi7 Rosanne
Casimir of Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc shares her thoughts on upcoming meeting with the Pope

Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir of Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc will be speaking directly with the Pope. She shares her thoughts on the upcoming meeting.

Advocate shares message to the Pope that the issue of MMIWG needs to be addressed

International advocate for murdered
and missing Indigenous women and
girls Lorelei Williams travelled to Rome
to send a message to the Pope that the
issue of MMIWG also needs to be addressed.

Indigenous Peoples ‘on the verge’ of turning a corner with Catholic church says Phil Fontaine

The Assembly of First Nations delegation’s “encounter with the Pope” was set for one
hour Thursday but lasted into a second to
cover the impact of the Catholic church’s
role in Canada’s residential school system
and the trauma that remains to this day.

Residential school survivor sees Rome
trip as ‘pomp and ceremony’ with no
clear path to healing

Kathie Dickie wants reconciliation
from the Catholic church, but she’s not
sold on a papal apology as a be all end all.

Papal apology ‘an empty gesture’ without reparations and reform: Niigaan Sinclair

Indigenous delegates want Pope Francis to visit Canada and apologize for abuses at residential schools, but one professor says contemporary reports of abuse must be investigated too.

‘I am sorry’: Pope Francis apologizes for role Catholics played in residential school abuses

During their last in-person meeting with Pope Francis, First Nations, Inuit and Métis members of the delegation to Vatican City heard the words they were seeking, “I am sorry.”

Catholic Church must ‘address deniers’ following apology says Murray Sinclair

The former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is urging the Catholic Church to tackle residential school denialism following Pope Francis’s apology on Friday morning.