Statement from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops following the recent discovery at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School

Many people have shared with me their grief and disappointment over the tragic discovery of the remains of 215 children at the site of the former Residential School in Kamloops in British Columbia. As with many of you, the pain of such a tragedy has disturbed me and deeply touched me. There have been many calls for an explanation and apology from the Catholic Church. A delegation to the Holy See composed of people from Aboriginal communities and national First Nations, Métis and Inuit organizations and bishops is being prepared in search of more significant healing and reconciliation for the future. In accordance with the international travel guidelines related to the pandemic, the bishops are determined to move forward with the delegation before the end of 2021. This meeting with the Holy Father can be an essential step on the road to reconciliation between the Indigenous people and the Church. May we achieve genuine trust and reconciliation with the First Peoples of this country - not only in words but also in deeds. (Planning for this delegation had begun before the pandemic). I encourage you to read the statement on this subject on the CCCB website at https://www.cccb.ca/announcement/cccb-statement-delegation-to-the-holy-see/

Mgr Valery Vienneau

Archbishop of Moncton