Pope Francis says he is sorry for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in cultural destruction and forced assimilation of Indigenous people, which culminated in residential schools.
Francis apologized Monday in front of residential school survivors and elders in Maskwacis, Alta., south of Edmonton after visiting the site of the former Ermineskin Indian Residential School. Read more: Full text of the Pope Francis’ residential school apology: ‘I am deeply sorry’ He received applause from many in the crowd of thousands. “I am sorry.
I ask forgiveness, in particular, for the ways in which many members of the church and of religious communities co-operated, not least through their indifference, in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation promoted by the governments of that time, which culminated in the system of residential schools,” Francis said through a translator. Read more: Pope Francis in Canada: Translators to deliver apology in Indigenous languages Francis spoke in Spanish, his first language, and it was translated into English by a priest.
Translations were also available in several Indigenous languages. The Pope said he feels sorrow, indignation and shame. He said begging forgiveness is the first step and there must be a serious investigation into what took place.