Indigenous leaders attending Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome expressed their hope that the Vatican will continue to support the reconciliation initiatives he championed during his time as pope.
Governor General Mary Simon stated that the pope’s apology for the systemic abuses within the residential school system was a crucial move towards acknowledging historical injustices.
As the first Indigenous governor general of Canada, she led the Canadian delegation at the funeral this morning, reminiscing about Pope Francis’s impactful visit in 2022, during which he reached out to Indigenous Peoples.
Simon and Wilton Littlechild, a former residential school student and commissioner for Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, expressed their desire for the next pope to continue these vital efforts.
Simon described the apology as “a significant milestone” in the “reconciliation journey,” while Littlechild emphasized the need to “expand our efforts on reconciliation.”
They were among those who honored Pope Francis and reflected on his commitment to support marginalized groups, including migrants, the poor, and the ill.
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“I hope that the new pope will continue the work that Pope Francis initiated,” Simon mentioned Saturday, speaking by phone from Rome shortly after the funeral.
“The apology marked an important milestone, and we must persist in our collaborative efforts on the path to reconciliation. His visit to Canada and his apology on Indigenous lands were profoundly significant.”
Littlechild noted the importance of advancing this healing process for “our paths to recovery.”
“I’m hopeful that the next pope will not have to start afresh but will build upon and enhance the ongoing work,” he stated.
Pope Francis funeral: Thousands gather in St. Peter’s Square to honor the Catholic leader
