Pope Francis offered another apology on Friday, July 29th, this time to Inuit residential school, as he wrapped up his five day visit to Canada, with a brief stop in Iqaluit. But he stopped short of apologising to the Church as a whole and its troubled history.
Pope Francis met with about 100 survivors from Nunavut, before taking stage in front of the school where more than 1,000 people waited for him outside.
Pope Francis spoke in Iqaluit, “I want to tell you how sorry I am”.
Governor General, Mary Simon was in Iqaluit to witness His Holiness Pope Francis address survivors of the residential school system and community members of all ages.
Simon said, “Your Holiness, survivors came to hear what you had to say with hearts and minds open, some willing to forgive, some still with hurt, some still living with the hurt, but all willing to listen”.
Canada’s true history can be difficult to talk about, but these conversations must continue in a spirit of reconciliation, Simon added.
After the gathering Governor General, Simon helped bid farewell to Pope Francis as this time in Canada ended.
Courtesy Inuit Tapiriit kanadami.