Pope Francis apologized for the past “evil” actions of the Catholic church and his feelings of “.indignation and shame,” he said during a speech at the Vatican on April first..The live-streamed event hosted more than 190 Indigenous survivors, elders, leaders and youth from Canada after a week of meetings and discussions on residential schools in Canada..The Catholic Church admitted its role in administering the facilities which took away culture, ideologies, and ways of living in addition to causing intergenerational harm still being felt today..“I feel shame — sorrow and shame — for the role that a number of Catholics, particularly those with educational responsibilities, have had in all these things that wounded you, in the abuses you suffered and in the lack of respect shown for your identity, your culture and even your spiritual values,” said the Pope..“We run after practical and immediate goals without thinking of the future and generations yet to come.”.“For you, the land preserves the memory of your ancestors who rest there,” said the Pope..“It is a vital setting making it possible to see each individual’s life as part of a greater web of relationships, with the Creator, with the human community, with all living species and with the earth, our common home.”.“Your care for the land, which you see not as a resource to be exploited, but as a gift of heaven.”.“Yet that tree has experienced a tragedy that you described to me in these past days: the tragedy of being uprooted.”.Joining the Pope in apology were six members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops who traveled to Europe for the event..After saying how much value he sees in indigenous culture and spirituality, the Pope apologized for the “evil” that ensued against those traditions..“All this has made me feel two things very strongly: indignation and shame,” he said..“Indignation, because it is not right to accept evil and, even worse, to grow accustomed to evil, as if it were an inevitable part of the historical process.”.“Without real indignation, without historical memory and without a commitment to learning from past mistakes, problems remain unresolved and keep coming back,” said the Pope..“Dear brothers and sisters, it is my hope that our meetings in these days will point out new paths to be pursued together, instill courage and strength, and lead to greater commitment on the local level.”. Pope feels ‘shame’, calls residential schools ‘evil’ part of historyNorthwest Territories Regional Chief Gerald Antoine after meeting with Pope Francis earlier in the week, Courtesy of CBC .Around St. Peter’s Square in Rome, people awaiting the English translation of the speech reacted with mixed feelings, reported Global News..Dene National Chief Gerald Antoine said the apology was in “good faith” but he still expects the Pope to come and apologize to all their families on Turtle Island..A different reaction came from Métis National Council President Cassidy Caron as she said to Global she was “deeply moved,” after the speech..Ewa Sudyk is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.esudyk@westernstandard.news
