CANADA
Catholic Philly
BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
OTTAWA, Ontario (CNS) — The apostolic nuncio to Canada said Pope Francis is considering an invitation for a visit, during which many Canadians hope he would apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in running Indian residential schools.
“The pope has received this invitation, this request, from the First Nations,” said Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, nuncio. “He is considering it.”
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada — set up to discover what happened in the government-funded, church-run residential schools, issued 94 calls to action last year. One was for the pope to apologize — on Canadian soil — for the Catholic Church’s role in Indian residential schools.
“We heard many survivors say, ‘My church has not apologized to me,’” Marie Wilson, a commission member, said at an Ottawa news conference March 30.
Asked if an apology from Pope Francis would be enough, she responded, “I’m certain it won’t be enough. It’s all just movement forward.”
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