SA国际传媒

By Lisa Zengarini

The words sorry, shame, pain and indignation resounded strongly in of his penitential pilgrimage to Canada. Addressing some 2,000  residential school survivors, Chiefs, leaders, elders, knowledge keepers and youth from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities in Maskwacis Park ("Bear hills", in the Cree language) on Monday, the Pope reiterated his deep sense of 鈥減ain and remorse鈥� for the suffering inflicted on the Indigenous peoples of Canada, and specifically for the violence of forced assimilation endured in the residential school system.

Imploring God鈥檚 forgiveness, healing and reconciliation

He said he has come to their native lands to tell them, in person, of his 鈥渟orrow鈥�, 鈥渢o implore God鈥檚 forgiveness, healing and reconciliation鈥�, to express his closeness, and to pray with and for them.

Indigenous leaders of Canada welcome the Pope in Maskwacis

The Pope recalled the meetings he had in Rome with the Canadian Indigenous Delegations between 28 March and 1 April in which he heard their stories about life in the Indian residential schools. On that occasion, he was given two pairs of moccasins as a sign of the suffering endured by indigenous children there, which he was asked to return when he came to Canada. The Holy Father noted that those mocassins speak of a path of 鈥渉ealing and reconciliation鈥� to be followed 鈥渢ogether鈥�

The need to remember

Pope Francis went on stress the importance of remembering this dark past of disruption and destruction of ancestral cultures. However painful, he said, to remember the 鈥渄evastating experiences鈥� that took place in the residential schools is necessary, because 鈥渇orgetfulness leads to indifference鈥�, and also in light of the lasting impact of that system on Indigenous communities up until today.

Indigenous graves in the cemetery of Maskwacis where the Pope stopped in silent prayer

A disastrous error, incompatible with the Gospel

While thanking the Indigenous peoples of Canada for sharing these bitter memories with him, Pope Francis said he is 鈥渄eeply sorry鈥� for 鈥渢he ways in which, regrettably, many Christians supported the colonizing mentality of the powers that oppressed the indigenous peoples鈥�. 鈥淲ith shame and unambiguously鈥� he again implored forgiveness 鈥渇or the ways in which many members of the Church and of religious communities cooperated in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation鈥�.

鈥淎lthough Christian charity was not absent, and there were many outstanding instances of devotion and care for children, the Pope emphasized that 鈥渢he overall effects of the policies linked to the residential schools were catastrophic鈥�, remarking that the system was a 鈥渄isastrous error, incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ鈥�.

Begging pardon is only a first step

However, Pope Francis acknowledged that begging for pardon is not sufficient and is only a first step towards healing He said a further step needs to be taken 鈥渢o create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening鈥�.

An important part of this process, 鈥渨ill be to conduct a serious investigation into the facts that took place in the past and to assist the survivors of the residential schools鈥� as they heal from the traumas they suffered.

Commitment to persevere in the path of healing

The Pope further expressed hope that Christians and civil society in Canada  鈥済row in the ability to accept and respect the identity and the experience of the indigenous peoples鈥�, while reiterating the Catholic Church鈥檚 commitment on this issue.

Pope Francis specified that, though he was not able to accept the many invitations received to visit other parts of Canada, his words throughout this penitential journey 鈥渁re meant for every indigenous community and person鈥�.

Silence and prayer

Concluding, the Pope called for silent prayer  鈥渢o help interiorize the pain,  as 鈥渙ur own efforts are not enough to achieve healing and reconciliation鈥� and 鈥渨e need God鈥檚 grace鈥�, 鈥淢ay He guide our steps and enable us to advance together on our journey鈥�, the Pope concluded.

Pope Francis kissing a banner with names of victims of abuse committed at residential schools

Chief Wilton Littlechild鈥檚 address

At the beginning of the meeting, Pope Francis was greeted by Cree Chief Wilton Littlechild, who, on behalf of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, expressed deep appreciation for 鈥渢he great personal effort鈥� he has made to meet Indigenous peoples in their homeland. Usow-Kihew (鈥淕olden Eagle鈥�) as he is known in his Cree community, is a former student of the local Ermineskin Indian Residential School and has been a Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which in 2015 published a report into the history and legacy of Canada's residential school system.

The Pope greets an indigenous leader

In his address he warmly welcomed Pope Francis鈥� joining the Indigenous peoples of Canada in their journey of healing and reconciliation, and said the words he spoke after meeting the Indigenous delegations in Rome and listening to their stories, were 鈥渁 source of deep comfort and great encouragement鈥�.

The Pope wearing feather headdress donated by the people