A papal apology on Indigenous land in Canada is not irrelevant south of the border.

If Pope Francis is going to broaden or deepen the apology he offered April 1 in Rome, then it������Ƶapp going to happen at Maskwacis, 70 kilometres south of Edmonton, site of one of the largest Indian residential schools in Canada.

A First Nations group of residential school survivors has publicly put forward specific wording for a papal apology widely expected in Canada in July.  

At the conclusion of the Lenten journey of Indigenous representatives to the Vatican, Pope Francis gave the delegation a laetare moment, a time to rejoice. The Pope������Ƶapp poignant apology for the harm “members of the Catholic Church” did to Indigenous children in residential schools and his promise to visit Canada this summer is a major step toward healing a broken relationship.

When Chief Phil Fontaine arrives in Rome to meet with Vatican officials and Pope Francis he will be laser focused on having the Holy Father apologize on Canadian soil, in an Indigenous context, for the damage done to children and communities by Catholic participation in the residential school system.

Over the last five years retired Ontario Superior Court Justice George Valin has asked three different Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ presidents why the bishops can’t simply, unanimously and open-heartedly invite Pope Francis to apologize on Canadian soil for the long, sad history of Catholic-run residential schools. He has yet to receive an answer.

OTTAWA – A majority of Canadians oppose the government making repeated apologies for the Indian residential schools, according to a new survey that indicates the country is deeply divided on the issue.

OTTAWA – Archbishop Gerard Pettipas recalls the “celebratory feel” 10 years ago when Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the government������Ƶapp Indian residential schools policy.

Though it all hinges on an invitation from Canada������Ƶapp bishops, the superior general of the world������Ƶapp 17,000 Jesuits — including Pope Francis — is certain the Pope will issue an apology on Canadian soil for Catholic involvement in Canada������Ƶapp residential school system.

OTTAWA – The Minister of Indigenous Affairs has asked the Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle, a coalition of Catholic groups, to help government efforts to obtain a papal apology for the Church������Ƶapp role in residential schools.