The Red River Metis went to Rome looking for the restoration of their communities, their culture and their churches.

The head of the Manitoba Métis Federation said his group's meeting with Pope Francis was an emotional encounter centered on reconciliation between the Indigenous community and the Catholic Church.

Alberta Métis fiddler Alex Kusturok says the opportunity to play before Pope Francis during the recent Indigenous meetings in Rome was not only an amazing experience for him, but he’s looking forward to telling his newborn son about it one day. 

Never was a single sentence more longed for. In 40 years since survivors began to speak out, 16 years since the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement and seven years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada delivered its final report, nations and peoples have waited for a Pope to speak.

Vancouver Archbishop Michael Miller says Pope Francis has set in motion a “pilgrimage of closeness” between the Catholic Church and Canada’s First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples with his historic apology.

Read the full text of Pope Francis' April 1 final audience with the Canadian Indigenous delegation that travelled to the Vatican.

Neither truth nor reconciliation is served by claims that cannot be reconciled with what is known to be true.

The words I’m sorry from the Pope were more than what either Canadian bishops or Indigenous delegations expected from this week-long encounter with Pope Francis.

First Nations delegates who met with Pope Francis today are still awaiting word on whether the Pope will renounce the Doctrine of Discovery.

VATICAN CITY -- Ted Quewezance came to the Vatican looking for closure.

Metis elder and educator Gary Gagnon knows that what’s going on in Rome this week is not some esoteric side issue for the Catholic Church. It’s at the heart of the most important issue in the Church under Pope Francis.

As members of all three Indigenous delegations in Rome to meet with Pope Francis toured the Anima Mundi collection at the Vatican Museums, there were mixed feelings. Some were in awe, while some wanted to know how these examples of Indigenous culture ended up half a world away from where they were made.

The unprecedented meetings this week between Pope Francis and three Canadian delegations of Indigenous people in Rome are big news. Thirteen camera crews and dozens of journalists — Italian, American, British and Canadian — greeted Metis National Council president Cassidy Caron after the MNC delegation of nine came out to St. Peter’s Square after their hour-long encounter with the bishop of Rome.

Hard truths and deep prayer marked the Metis delegation’s hour with Pope Francis, said bishops who were in the room when nine Metis elders and residential school survivors spoke with the Pope.

After being greeted individually at the door of the papal library by Pope Francis, Inuit delegates proceeded to light the qulliq they had brought with them — a soapstone lantern that burns blubber, and a symbol of warmth and life in Inuit culture.