Pope Francis’ 3-Year Apology Remembered by Indigenous Survivors

April 21, 2025, 6:20 pm

Nearly three years after Pope Francis visited Canada to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools, Indigenous leaders and survivors recall the emotional historic event. They discuss how his heartfelt words still resonate, yet many feel that true healing remains elusive amid persistent scars of the past.

Bluesky: @theglobeandmail.com

theglobeandmail.com / Canadian Catholics remember Pope Francis

Pope Francis is being remembered by Canadians as a man of compassion and progressive values. Religious leaders say Francis was accessible and eager to listen, including when he met with Indigenous people to hear about their stories and experiences.

thetyee.ca / Who Benefits from Residential School Denialism?

Undermining Indigenous experience aids powerful interests looking to extract resources.

winnipegfreepress.com / A vision for real reconciliation on resources

Canada and other countries are caught in an unprecedented, American-caused economic restructuring. Out of this turmoil lies an opportunity for a socio-economic transformation of Canada’s northern regions — a transformation […]

ledevoir.com / Le pape et le justicier

Je retiendrai que le pape François a reçu pendant trois jours des représentants des Premières Nations canadiennes.

theglobeandmail.com / Indigenous leaders in Canada react to the Pope’s death with a mix of gratitude and unresolved pain

Francis’s monumental visit to Canada was the product of years of lobbying and is remembered as much for its sincerity as for its shortcomings

winnipegfreepress.com / Pope wasn’t perfect but showed us another path

globalnews.ca / Lethbridge residents reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis

Following the passing of the leader of the Catholic Church, residents in Lethbridge fondly remember Pope Francis' achievements over the past 12 years.

nationalpost.com / ’A man of his word’: Canadian Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors reflect on Pope Francis

After years of groups advocating for the head of the church to apologize to survivors on Canadian soil, Francis promised to do so in the spring of 2022

ledevoir.com / Un pape politique

François a révolutionné le langage, les arguments et le style de la papauté.

theglobeandmail.com / ‘Love, love, love ... and hope’: Visitors to St. Michael’s remember Pope Francis

Visiting priest says the Pope reminded the world ‘that God’s mercy is for all peoples’

torontosun.com / ’Man of compassion:’ Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors on Pope Francis

It’s been nearly three years since Pope Francis travelled to Canada to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools. But for some Indigenous survivors, memories of the historic day remain fresh in their minds. “His statements of apology still have a lot of impact to a lot...

thestar.com / 'Man of compassion:' Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors on Pope Francis

It's been nearly three years since Pope Francis travelled to Canada to apologize for the Catholic Church's role in residential schools. But for some Indigenous survivors, memories of the historic day remain fresh in their minds.

winnipegfreepress.com / ‘Man of compassion:’ Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors on Pope Francis

citynews.ca / ‘Man of compassion:’ Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors on Pope Francis

winnipegfreepress.com / Pope felt ‘my pain’ about residential schools, Long Plain woman says

When Linda Daniels and Pope Francis looked into each other’s eyes at the Vatican three years ago, she hoped he would recognize the suffering of Indigenous people who were forced into residential schools as children.

edmontonjournal.com / Remembering Pope Francis: Pontiff recalled in Edmonton, Maskwacis and Lac Ste. Anne

Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith said Monday that the Pope raised the issue of residential schools in the public consciousness.

torontosun.com / ‘Like our father or grandfather dying:’ Pope Francis fondly remembered in Toronto

Toronto resident Kathy Sacco will forever cherish the memory of a chance encounter she had with Pope Francis in 2017 after devastating earthquakes in Abruzzo, Italy. As her hands trembled and the cold wind whipped her hair outside St. Michael’s Cathedral, Sacco showed an image on her cellphone...

globalnews.ca / Catholics in Alberta mourn the death of Pope Francis, reflect on his legacy

For many Catholics in Alberta, the most enduring part of Pope Francis' legacy will be his historic apology for the Catholic's role in church-run residential schools.

globalnews.ca / Pope Francis made Catholic Church more welcoming, says Winnipeg Archbishop

'He really was focused on us being a listening people, that we start by listening to those around us,' says Archbishop Murray Chatlain.

winnipegfreepress.com / ‘Thank God’ for Pope Francis: St. Boniface archbishop

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Pope Francis’ 3-Year Apology Remembered by Indigenous Survivors

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