PHOTOS: Pope apologizes to Indigenous survivors in his ‘penitential pilgrimage’ in Maskwacis
His Holiness Pope Francis made a historical visit to Maskwacis, Alta., as part of what he called a pilgrimage of penance. He first visited the Ermineskin Cree Nation cemetery, where he spent a few minutes alone praying. Nearby, there were symbolic teepees and signs set up at the former Ermineskin residential school site.
At Maskwa Park the Pope gave the much-anticipated, and for many, long-awaited public apology for the Catholic church’s role in the residential school system in Canada.“I have come to your native lands to tell you in person of my sorrow to implore God’s forgiveness, healing and reconciliation, to express my closeness and to pray with you and for you,” he said.
The Pope stated in his speech that an important part of reconciliation will be to take further action including conducting a serious investigation into the truth of what happened in Canadian residential schools. Traditional Indigenous singer Gerry Saddleback gave a powerful rendition of the Canada national anthem in Cree. Though the words may have been unfamiliar to some, emotions of grief and anger came through clearly in her performance.
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