Pope Francis accepted the invitation of the Bishops’ Conference of Canada and is willing to visit the country. The specific time will be officially announced shortly. The Canadian Church is committed to the process of peacemaking with the indigenous people.
(Vatican News Network) Pope Francis accepted the invitation of the Bishops’ Conference of Canada to visit this country. The Holy See Press Room issued an announcement on October 27, stating that “The Bishops’ Conference of Canada has invited Pope Francis to make a pastoral visit to this country”, and the Pope said “willing to go to this country after the date is confirmed later”. The bishops of Canada acknowledged the suffering caused to the indigenous people in the past and have begun the process of peace with them.
On June 6 this year, after reciting the Three Bell Sutras on Sunday, Pope Francis expressed sorrow for the discovery of the remains of more than 200 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School (former Kamloops Indian Residential School). He said, “The discovery of this tragic fact has further deepened people’s understanding of past pain and suffering,” while calling on the Canadian authorities and various church groups to “work hand in hand to uncover the truth of this tragic event and humbly commit to it. The path of peace and healing”.
From the end of the 19th century to the 1960s, about 150,000 aboriginal children in Canada were taken away from their families to receive cultural assimilation education promoted by the authorities. These children cannot speak their own language, and some of them are even subjected to invisible violations. In 2015, the Canadian Truth-seeking and Reconciliation Commission drafted a report after seven years of search work, detailing the abuse of Aboriginal children under the then federal government’s policies.
At that time, Canadian church schools also participated in the measures implemented by the government. In addition to the cemetery mentioned above, 715 unmarked tombs were subsequently found in another school, the former site of the Mariwal Indian Boarding School. After the incident, the Bishops’ Conference of the country immediately expressed “guilt” for the abuse and death of thousands of indigenous children, and “painfully” admitted that the “historical trauma” and the pain and challenges inherited by the indigenous peoples still remain today. Continue”.
Therefore, the Bishops’ Conference of Canada plans to allocate 30 million Canadian dollars across the country to implement a number of initiatives to accompany the process of repair and peace within a maximum of five years. These plans, goals, and funds will be discussed with leaders of indigenous groups, and various dioceses, parishes and church organizations in the country will be mobilized to participate.
The archbishop of Regina, Donald Bolen, told Canadian television that it was a “long journey”. “We must walk side by side with the indigenous people on the path of seeking justice. We don’t have to hide anything. Once things come to light, we should ask for forgiveness. This is very important. We must continue to take concrete actions for justice and peace.”
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