Pope Francis has made the long-awaited public apology for the role that the Catholic Church played in Canada’s residential school system.

The apology was delivered today (Monday) in front of survivors at the former site of the Ermineskin residential school. about an hour south of Edmonton.

The 85 year old Pontiff was in a wheelchair, spoke in Spanish and his comments were read in English.

The Pope’s apology meant a lot to elders and residential school survivors, such Wilton Littlechild, the honorary chief of the Maskwacis Cree Nation.

Francis says the memories of the children who never returned from residential schools have left him with sorrow, indignation and shame.