Indigenous Delegation to the Holy See

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced that from December 17 -20, 2021 a long-planned delegation will visit the Holy Father to foster meaningful dialogue and healing with Indigenous Peoples. An excerpt of the statement reads as follows:

“Pope Francis is deeply committed to hearing directly from Indigenous Peoples, expressing his heartfelt closeness, addressing the impact of colonization and the role of the Church in the residential school system, in the hopes of responding to the suffering of Indigenous Peoples and the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma. The Bishops of Canada are deeply appreciative of the Holy Father’s spirit of openness in generously extending an invitation for personal encounters with each of the three distinct groups of delegates – First Nations, Métis and Inuit – as well as a final audience with all delegates together on 20 December 2021.”

Additional resources are available at: www.archtoronto.org/residentialschools.