Rome Coverage: Canadian indigenous meet with Pope Francis
The long-awaited meeting between Pope Francis and representatives of Canada’s Indigenous communities in Rome promises to be a history-making occasion — and The Catholic Register is there to provide readers comprehensive coverage.
The Register’s associate editor, Michael Swan, is on the scene in Rome during the meetings which begin with individual Indigenous delegations March 28 and end with a final papal audience for all participants April 1.
Check this page for daily updates.
Latest
Metis praise Pope Francis for listening
The Red River Metis went to Rome looking for the restoration of their communities, their culture and their churches.
Photos
More Stories
Apology begins path to reconciliation
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.
Miller awaits Pope’s ‘pilgrimage of closeness’
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.
Pope Francis: ‘I ask for God’s forgiveness’
Read the full text of Pope Francis' April 1 final audience with the Canadian Indigenous delegation that travelled to the Vatican.
Pope Francis apologizes for Church role in residential schools, plans for visit to Canada
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.
Indigenous demand Pope Francis revoke Doctrine of Discovery
First Nations delegates who met with Pope Francis today are still awaiting word on whether the Pope will renounce the Doctrine of Discovery.
Indigenous want truth about past, partnership for future
VATICAN CITY -- Ted Quewezance came to the Vatican looking for closure.
Indigenous bring synodality to Rome
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.
Vatican’s Indigenous collection opened to Canadian delegation
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.
Indigenous delegation makes headlines worldwide
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.
'Today is the beginning of something'
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.
Inuit seek Pope’s help in bringing alleged abusive priest to justice
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.
Pope Francis listened, Metis hope Canadians do
Led by two fiddlers playing the Red River Jig to the amazement of tourists, Metis delegates skirted past St. Peter’s Square on their way out from an hour-long meeting with Pope Francis before meeting the assembled press from Rome and Canada.
Why Rome matters
Rome is not just another city. It’s not even an Italian city. It belongs to the world and to God at one and the same time.
Indigenous hope to ‘create path forward’ with Pope Francis
A week of spiritual diplomacy between Pope Francis and three Canadian Indigenous delegations will begin with hope, Assembly of First Nations Northwest Territories Regional Chief Gerald Antoine told an international press corps gathering on Zoom March 24.
Doctrine of Discovery stands in reconciliation’s path
1493 papal bull casts long shadow over Church-Indigenous relations
Oblates to open more residential school records
As three separate Indigenous delegations head to Rome for meetings with Pope Francis on March 28, March 31 and April 1, Canada’s Oblate Fathers have announced a deal with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to make more residential school records available, including material that may be archived in Rome and Paris.
Reconciliation begins with listening
Without grassroots Catholics, Indigenous-Church relations won’t move forward