Pope apologises to indigenous Canadians for wrongs at residential schools

Indigenous delegates from Canada's First Nations pose for a photo with Pope Francis during a meeting at the Vatican, March 31, 2022. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis issued a historic apology to Canadian indigenous peoples on Friday for the Roman Catholic Church's role in residential schools that sought to erase their cultures and where many children suffered abuse and were buried in unmarked graves.

Francis, in an address to native leaders after meetings with delegates from various indigenous nations, also said he hoped to visit Canada in July.