The Prime Minister says yesterday’s apology by the Pope to Indigenous people impacted by the Residential School system is about the children who were taken from their families and robbed of their childhoods.

“The intergenerational impacts of residential schools continue to reverberate within Indigenous communities today, as Survivors, their families, and their communities continue to deal with the resulting trauma. The Government of Canada will continue to support their healing journey and remains committed to fully implementing the TRC’s Calls to Action.”

The Truth and Reconcilation Commission, in its final report, delivered 94 Calls to Action and Justin Trudeau points out that #58 specifically calls upon the Pope to issue an apology to Survivors, their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children in Catholic-run residential schools.

Trudeau says no one must ever forget what happened at residential schools across Canada and we must ensure it doesn’t happen again.

The National Residential School Crisis Line offers emotional support and crisis referral services for residential school Survivors and their families. Call the toll-free Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.

Pope Francis will deliver Holy Mass at Commonwealth Stadium at this morning. Approximately 65,000 people are expected to attend. At 5 p.m. this afternoon there will be a Pilgrimage to the site of Lac Ste Anne and Liturgy of the Word.