“I’m Sorry”
Pope Francis addresses a “deplorable evil.” B Y R E V. P H I L I P A . G U N T H E R
“ I E X P R E S S M Y D E E P S H A M E A N D S O R R OW. . . I H U M B LY B E G F O R F O R G I V E N E S S . ” POPE FRANCIS
Historic. A beginning. A day to listen. An act of repentance. An apology heard around the world. Profound and personal. These are a sample of the sentiments used to describe Pope Francis’ apology to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples on July 25th in Maskwacis, Alberta. Maskwacis is the site of the former Ermineskin Residential School. The pope spent six days in Canada. The last papal visit took place in 1984 (Pope John Paul II). Chief Wilton Littlechild started the opening event by stating, “Your holiness, welcome to our land.” In his address, Pope Francis shared that he came with a “deep sense of pain and remorse.”
“ SO MANY OF US ARE SO H E ARTB ROKEN .” M AV I S J O H N S O N , R E S I D E N T I A L S C H O O L S U RV I VO R
The pontiff, appearing frail and somber, told listeners that the church kneels before God seeking forgiveness for, “a disastrous error… incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus.” Pope Francis was unequivocal in describing the role of many Catholics in residential schools as being a source of great harm and abuse; this was not the way of Jesus. “ I FO RG IV E YO U.” M A RY N O R T H W E S T, R E S I D E N T I A L S C H O O L S U RV I VO R
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A striking moment of the visit was the pope’s return of the children’s moccasins made and given to him by Marie-Ann Day months earlier. They were given to the pope at the Vatican. It was there that the pope was personally invited to come to Canada and ask forgiveness for the church’s efforts to destroy the culture of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. On that earlier visit he was asked by Day to return the moccasins when he came to Canada. Although for a notable number the pope’s apology was a healing experience, one should be cognizant that the response to the pope’s visit and words was dramatically mixed. Some called it a heartfelt effort at reconciliation, others a disingenuous and hypocritical spectacle of a toxic religious institution. The Pope’s failure to renounce the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius, his unwillingness to give authorities information on suspected sexual offenders under his oversight, and the failure to acknowledge the culpability of the Catholic Church as an institution, being evidence of the latter. Where there is unanimous agreement is that this apology is just the beginning of a pathway to reconciliation. Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation Chief Tony Alexis summed it up best when he remarked, “You can’t just say I’m sorry and walk away. There has to be effort. There has to be work and more meaningful action behind it.” “ EVERY SURVIVOR WILL CHOOSE HOW THEY FEEL A B O U T T H E A P O L O G Y.” A FN R EG I O NA L CH I E F CI N DY WOO D H O US E
In the evening of the same day, during his visit at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton, Pope Francis preached, “Reconciliation is a gift from the Lord Jesus. …Jesus’ reconciliation came through the cross (tree of life)…Peace is found at the cross…The church is the living body of reconciliation – a house of
