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Pope Francis has accepted the invitation issued by the Canadian bishops' conference to visit their country, particularly within the framework of the “pastoral process of reconciliation with indigenous peoples” that began recently. The date has not yet been fixed and will be "in due course."
The discovery in May 2021 of 215 remains of Indigenous children near a former boarding school run by a Canadian Catholic congregation - followed by those of several other mass graves across the country - sparked a major crisis in the Catholic Church in Canada.
In the ensuing protest, several churches were set on fire.
The Catholic bishops asked for forgiveness from the members of the peoples concerned and announced the launch of a work of memory and healing, accompanied by pastoral initiatives.
A delegation of indigenous people will also be received at the Vatican and meet Pope Francis from December 17 to 20, 2021.
In a statement June 10, the bishops said that “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."
