Renewed commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous communities

On the two-year anniversary of Pope Francis’s penitential pilgrimage to Canada, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops ( cccb ), in a “Letter to the People of God”, has provided an update on the steps that the Catholic Church in Canada has taken to respond to the Holy Father’s calls for a future of justice, healing, and reconciliation. It encourages Catholics across the country to continue to listen to and support residential school survivors and Indigenous communities on this journey.

“After years of listening, learning, prayer, and dialogue, the Bishops of Canada were deeply grateful for the Holy Father’s apology, and to the many Indigenous partners who shared their experiences and desires for a brighter future,” said Bishop William T. McGrattan, President of the cccb . “We believe this was a meaningful step in the reconciliation journey — but the effects of the residential school system persist to this day. As we look back on the words of Pope Francis, we must continue to confront this painful legacy and to walk alongside the Indigenous Peoples in the spirit of solidarity and hope.”