Mission accomplished: Pope apologizes on Canadian soil for church role in residential schools

Mission accomplished: Pope apologizes on Canadian soil for church role in residential schools

Canada's far north Inuit host Francis in goodbye ceremony

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Pope Francis departed for home Friday after completing his goal of apologizing for the Catholic Church's role in the infamous Canadian residential schools.

The pontiff ended this six-day visit with a trip to Iqaluit, the capital of Canada's Nunavut territory. It is home to 28,000 Inuit Indigenous peoples, although the territory makes up about 21% of the world's second-largest country.

It is the first time a pope has visited Nunavut, where average temperatures range from highs of 129 C (54 F) to lows of -30 C (-22 F).

Francis talked with Inuit children, elders and residential school survivors.

Canada's three Indigenous peoples -- Metis, First Nations and Inuit -- had about 150,000 of their children taken away beginning in the 1820s and forced into notorious Indian Residential Schools.

About 60% of the schools were run by Catholic orders. The state-funded schools subjected children at times to sexual, physical and psychological abuse and together with rampant disease an estimated 6,000 died.

After years of urging, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau adding his voice to the calls, the pope apologized to Indigenous representatives when they arrived in Rome in March.

The cry went up for him to do so again on Canadian soil where the atrocities took place and Francis heeded the calls, arriving in Canada on July 24 for what he termed his "penitential pilgrimage," and issuing apologies to all three Indigenous groups.

The bid was to reconcile Indigenous peoples with the Catholic Church.

The pontiff repeated his apology that had been spoken to Metis and First Nations peoples earlier this week.

Francis said his meeting Friday with Inuit survivors of the residential school system was a poignant reminder of why he had come to Canada.

"I thank you for having had the courage to tell your stories and to share your great suffering," Francis told the assemblage of politicians, survivors, adults and elders and children in Iqaluit. "I listened to several of you (and) I ask forgiveness."

The pope boarded a plane to Rome late Friday, leaving behind a mixed review of his visit.

Most Indigenous people seemed pleased by the apology but many said it was just another step toward reconciliation between themselves and the church.










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