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Indigenous delegation to meet with pope

A delegation of Indigenous peoples of Canada — First Nations, Metis, and Inuit — is set to meet with Pope Francis in December of this year, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement. The meeting is set from Dec.
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A delegation of Indigenous peoples of Canada is set to meet with Pope Francis in December of this year.

A delegation of Indigenous peoples of Canada — First Nations, Metis, and Inuit — is set to meet with Pope Francis in December of this year, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement. The meeting is set from Dec. 17 to 20 where the delegation could foster a meaningful encounter and dialogue with the Holy Father as part of the healing process between the Catholic church and the Indigenous population.

Indigenous peoples were victims of abuses in the residential school system, which was also partly run by Catholic nuns and priests more than 100 years ago. The discovery of hundreds of graves in old residential schools — 215 in Kamloops, B.C., and over 700 in Marieval, Sask. — had opened old wounds and renewed calls for the pope to apologize to the victims’ families and survivors.

CCCB said, in a statement, the pope wants to hear firsthand the sad tales from those who were directly affected by the residential school system.

“Pope Francis is deeply committed to hearing directly from Indigenous Peoples, expressing his heartfelt closeness, addressing the impact of colonization and the role of the Church in the residential school system, in the hopes of responding to the suffering of Indigenous Peoples and the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma.”

CCCB then thanked Pope Francis for inviting members from the three distinct groups — First Nations, Metis, and Inuit — to meet with him later this year. However, there was no mention on the issue of the pope apologizing for the Catholic church’s involvement in the residential school system.

CCCB said the Elders and Knowledge Keepers from the three distinct groups, residential school survivors, and young people from across Canada will be part of the delegation that will be accompanied by a small group of Canadian bishops and leaders of the Indigenous peoples.

“[Canadian Bishops] reaffirm their sincere hope that these forthcoming encounters will lead to a shared future of peace and harmony between Indigenous peoples and the Catholic church in Canada. [We had] genuinely heard the sincere invitation to engage wholeheartedly with the past and are deeply committed to take truly meaningful active steps together with Indigenous peoples in view of a future filled with greater respect and cooperation,” CCCB said in a statement.

CCCB added that the delegation — First Nations, Metis, and Inuit — is an “important step” in reconciliation and healing for the victims of the residential school system and the Catholic church in Canada. They said the pope have encouraged them to renew and strengthen the relationships between the Indigenous peoples and the Canadian Catholic church.

“In recent years, regional and diocesan listening circles have taken place across the country in order to hear the stories from local Indigenous communities and their hopes for the future. Mutual listening is the beginning of our common efforts to bring about shared and long-lasting reconciliation, authentic healing, and bridge building,” CCCB said.

Diocese of Saskatoon Bishop Mark A. Hagemoen, in a separate statement, said there is still a lot to be discussed in addressing the issue.

“One of these is the request for Pope Francis to provide an apology to residential school survivors, their families and communities, for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse that happened in the residential schools.”

“On this issue, I note that former Saskatoon Bishop [now Regina Archbishop] Donald Bolen, bishops of the Prince Albert Diocese, Keewatin Le Pas, Ukrainian Eparchy of Saskatoon, and I were among those who were encouraging the Holy Father to come to Canada in the time following the issuing of the [Truth and Reconciliation Commission] report.”

He added that they were disappointed to learn that the Vatican announced in March 2018 that the pope would not be visiting Canada to issue an apology.

 “I again state my support for such a visit by the Holy Father to Canada and I believe that an apology from Pope Francis would bring healing to many and would help further the journey of reconciliation in our church and our country.”