Pope Francis met with a delegation of Indigenous people from Canada, where he offered an apology for the mistreatment and abuse of children in the residential school system.
The full interview:
On April 1, Pope Francis delivered a historic apology. Speaking to a delegation from First Nations, Metis, and Inuit representatives, the Pope asked for God’s forgiveness for the Catholic Church’s role in running portions of the residential school system. The Anglican and United churches of Canada have already given formal apologies. For some indigenous people, the apology is too little too late. For others, it was an emotionally cathartic moment, lifting decades of shame and hurt over the abuse suffered by children at the schools. Alderville First Nations chief Dave Mowat provides his perspective on the Pope’s statement. He also gives insight into the history of the Protestant church in Alderville, giving a different perspective. Here is that interview.
Originally aired: April 15, 2022
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