Photo: Audience with the members of Métis National Council, March 28, 2022
«We are immensely grateful to the Holy Father for having accepted our invitation to continue the path of healing and reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of this land».
With these words, the Bishop of Saint-Jérome, Raymond Poisson, President of the Canadian Bishops’ Conference, welcomed, on behalf of the Catholic bishops of Canada, the official confirmation of the Pontiff’s visit.
In fact, on May 13, the Holy See Press Office issued a statement stating that after having accepted «the invitation of the civil and ecclesial authorities and of the indigenous communities, the Holy Father Francis will make an Apostolic Journey to Canada from July 24 to 30, visiting the cities of Edmonton, Quebec and Iqaluit».
Genuine desire for truth, justice and healing
As the statement of the Canadian Bishops’ Conference sent to Fides recalls, from March 28 to April 1 the Holy Father heard from the indigenous delegates, accompanied by some Canadian bishops, «the stories of those who have suffered at the hands of members of the Catholic Church and responded with compassion, sorrow and a genuine desire for truth, justice and healing».
The Issue of Residential Schools
The visit of the Canadian Native delegations is part of the process called «Indigenous Healing & Reconciliation», undertaken by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Indigenous Catholic Council (CICC), aimed above all at healing the painful issue of the residential schools, those institutes initiated at the end of the 19th century by the Canadian government and entrusted to the local Christian Churches, including the Catholic Church. In these schools, created with the aim of integrating the natives and active until the 1980’s, the children were often abused and mistreated, and ended up paying by their lives their diversity.
The words of the Pope
Pope Francis expressed his dismay and sorrow during the meeting after learning of the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
«I follow with sorrow the news from Canada about the gruesome discovery of the remains of 215 children, students of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, in the province of British Columbia. I join the Canadian Bishops and the entire Catholic Church in Canada in expressing my closeness to the Canadian people, traumatized by this shocking news. The sad discovery heightens our awareness of the pain and suffering of the past. The political and religious authorities of Canada continue to work with determination to shed light on this sad event and humbly commit themselves to a path of reconciliation and healing.»
In September, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement expressing its «remorse» for the mistreatment and death of thousands of Native children in schools that the government entrusted to Catholic communities as part of its Native Integration Policy.
Pope Francis was personally invited by Inuit delegates to visit the North during their March meetings.
«We continue to walk together on this important journey of healing and reconciliation.»
Source: Vatican News