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	Canadian Aborigines Get Apology from Pope over School Abuses AHN April 29, 2009 http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014976876 Vatican City (AHN) - Pope Benedict XVI apologized on Wednesday to a delegation of Canadian aborigines belonging to the Assembly of First Nations in a private audience with the group. Globe and Mail quoted a Vatican statement which read, "Given the sufferings that some indigenous children experienced in the Canadian residential school system, the Holy Father expressed his sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the church and he offered his sympathy and prayerful solidarity." Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly and himself a victim of the system, confirmed receiving the Pope's apology. "What we wanted the Pope to say to us was that he was sorry and... that he deeply felt for us... We heard that very clearly today," Fontaine was quoted by Globe and Mail. The delegation was made up of 40 people who heard Pope Benedict in his general audience at St. Peter's Square. After the general audience, five Canadian natives and five church representatives had a private audience with the pope, confirmed Archbsihop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg. Since the 19th century until the 1970s over 150,000 native Canadian aboriginal children were forced to attend 130 Christian schools run by missionaries where abuses were committed. About 75 percent of the schools were operated by Catholic congregations. In a letter Fontaine gave the Pope, he wrote, "Our struggle has reached a decisive moment. While the past must never be forgotten, our destiny lies in building a future with enduring foundations, the cornerstone of which must be forgiveness... Reconciliation and friendship is what we seek. The time to rebuild a better and brighter future together is upon us. The moment to bridge the gap has come." The papal apology follows a similar move made by the Canadian federal government a few months ago. Similar apologies have been made by the United, Presbyterian and Anglican churches to the Assembly of First Nations for taking part in the abuse
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