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Pope Francis (center) meets indigenous people from Canada: "I am very saddened and I join the bishops in asking you to apologize"
Photo: IMAGO/VATICAN MEDIA / ipa-agency.net / IMAGO/Independent Photo Agency Int.
Pope Francis has apologized to Canada's indigenous people for abuses by the Catholic Church.
"I ask God's forgiveness for the reprehensible behavior of the members of the Catholic Church," the head of the Catholic Church told representatives of various indigenous groups in the Vatican.
"I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sad and I join the bishops in asking you to apologize," said the 85-year-old.
The background is the scandal surrounding hundreds of children's bodies that were discovered near former Catholic boarding schools in May last year.
The finds sparked outrage at the Catholic Church, which had housed indigenous children who had been taken from their families in the facilities between the 17th century and the 1990s.
Francis promises trip to Canada
Francis met several of Canada's indigenous groups this week, including the Métis, Inuit and First Nations.
Among other things, they demanded that the Pope should support them in the processing.
The Pope said he felt shame at the role played by various leaders of the Catholic Church and at the abuse and lack of respect for indigenous identity and culture.
Francis also announced that he wanted to visit the people in their areas and thus held out the prospect of a trip to Canada.
He called it the memorial day of Saint Anne, the grandmother of Jesus - that would be the end of July.
"This year I would like to be with you during these days," said Francis.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had demanded that the pontiff come to Canada and apologize.
ptz/dpa
