Bishops described the meetings as “a listening time” and thanked delegates, who included former students of Canadian residential schools, for their graciousness and honesty with the pope.
Today’s meeting was “just one step forward in our journey,” said Cassidy Caron, Métis National Council president. “We’re looking forward to whatever [Pope Francis] intends to do when he comes to visit us in Canada.”
Pope Francis indicated in October last year that he would be open to making a papal visit to Canada, which he reiterated during the March 28 meetings. Although the trip has not been officially announced, Francis is expected to visit Canada this year.
According to a bishop who accompanied the Inuit delegation, the pope joked that he would prefer not to visit northern Canada during the frigid cold of winter.
Another request that came out of the meeting with the Métis was for access to records in Catholic dioceses or religious orders related to students of the residential schools.
A bishop clarified that there may be records in the mother houses of religious orders in Rome, but not at the Vatican.