As Indigenous delegations pressured Pope Francis for an apology, he heard firsthand the horrors of abuse done at church-run residential schools in Canada.
Indigenous, Metis and Inuit survivors are visiting the Vatican this week for meetings with the pope about the scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church.
More than 1,300 unmarked graves have been discovered since last May at church-run schools attended by Canada’s Indigenous children as part of a government policy of forced assimilation.
“The pope listened… (he) heard just three of the many stories we have to share,” Cassidy Caron, president of the Metis National Council, told journalists in front of St Peter’s Square.
Francis also held a private audience with representatives of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
The 85-year-old pontiff is scheduled to receive a delegation from the Assembly of First Nations on Thursday, before a final group meeting on Friday.
The Catholic Church in Canada has apologised “unequivocally” to Canada’s Indigenous peoples for a century of abuses at church-run residential schools.
Francis has also expressed his “pain” at the scandal — but has not gone so far as to offer an apology himself.
“We really truly hoped that… (at) this meeting today, that the pope would listen… and hopefully bring an apology when he does arrive in Canada,” Caron said.
Francis has shown interest in visiting Canada, according to Canadian bishops, though no date has been set.
