Pope Francis's apology for the Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s abusive residential schools was a full-throated denunciation of a decadeslong policy of forced assimilation that aimed to strip Indigenous children of their culture and traumatized generations.

Pope Francis has welcomed a First Nations delegation to the Vatican.

Indigenous leaders from Canada and survivors of the country’s notorious residential schools are meeting with Pope Francis.

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI met with a First Nations delegation from Canada and privately expressed regret over abuse suffered by Indigenous children at church-run boarding schools.