A papal apology on Indigenous land in Canada is not irrelevant south of the border.

If Pope Francis is going to broaden or deepen the apology he offered April 1 in Rome, then it’s going to happen at Maskwacis, 70 kilometres south of Edmonton, site of one of the largest Indian residential schools in Canada.

A First Nations group of residential school survivors has publicly put forward specific wording for a papal apology widely expected in Canada in July.  

At the conclusion of the Lenten journey of Indigenous representatives to the Vatican, Pope Francis gave the delegation a laetare moment, a time to rejoice. The Pope’s poignant apology for the harm “members of the Catholic Church” did to Indigenous children in residential schools and his promise to visit Canada this summer is a major step toward healing a broken relationship.

When Chief Phil Fontaine arrives in Rome to meet with Vatican officials and Pope Francis he will be laser focused on having the Holy Father apologize on Canadian soil, in an Indigenous context, for the damage done to children and communities by Catholic participation in the residential school system.

Over the last five years retired Ontario Superior Court Justice George Valin has asked three different Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ presidents why the bishops can’t simply, unanimously and open-heartedly invite Pope Francis to apologize on Canadian soil for the long, sad history of Catholic-run residential schools. He has yet to receive an answer.

OTTAWA – A majority of Canadians oppose the government making repeated apologies for the Indian residential schools, according to a new survey that indicates the country is deeply divided on the issue.

OTTAWA – Archbishop Gerard Pettipas recalls the “celebratory feel” 10 years ago when Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the government’s Indian residential schools policy.

Though it all hinges on an invitation from Canada’s bishops, the superior general of the world’s 17,000 Jesuits — including Pope Francis — is certain the Pope will issue an apology on Canadian soil for Catholic involvement in Canada’s residential school system.

OTTAWA – The Minister of Indigenous Affairs has asked the Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle, a coalition of Catholic groups, to help government efforts to obtain a papal apology for the Church’s role in residential schools.

Indian residential schools were established by Canada’s federal government, but Christian churches, including the Catholic Church, bought into the plan with enthusiasm.

OTTAWA – Those on the front lines of reconciliation are hopeful Pope Francis will say what needs to be said at the right time, in spite of the “pressure” that has been put on a papal apology on Canadian soil.

OTTAWA – Pope Francis is unlikely to be swayed by a House of Commons near-unanimous motion calling on him to apologize in Canada for abuses at Catholic run residential schools, said Archbishop Richard Gagnon.

When we arrived here, we took their land. Then we took their children. In 2018, we’re taking away the hope of sincere reconciliation.

OTTAWA – A House of Commons motion to formally ask Pope Francis to apologize on Canadian soil for the Church’s role in residential school abuses appears set to pass with near unanimous consent.