Pope Francis speaks with member of an indigenous tribe during his welcoming ceremony at Edmonton International Airport in Alberta Providence, Canada, on July 24, 2022. Pope Francis visits Canada for a chance to personally apologize to Indigenous survivors of abuse committed over a span of decades at residential schools run by the Catholic Church.
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02:48 - Source: CNN
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Pope Francis has spoken of his “sorrow, indignation and shame” over the Catholic Church’s role in the abuse of Canadian Indigenous children in residential schools, as he kicked off a weeklong “penitential pilgrimage” to the country.

The Pope apologized and promised a “serious investigation” into what happened in a speech at a meeting with Indigenous peoples in Edmonton, Alberta, on Monday.

Indigenous leaders have long called for a papal apology for the harm inflicted for decades on Indigenous children, who suffered abuse and the erasure of Indigenous culture in the country’s residential schools.

Pope Francis dons a headdress during a visit with Indigenous peoples at Maskwacis in Edmonton, Alberta, on Monday.
Pope Francis dons a headdress during a visit with Indigenous peoples at Maskwacis in Edmonton, Alberta, on Monday.
Eric Gay/AP
Pope Francis delivers his speech during his Wednesday General Audience at Paul VI Audience Hall in Vatican City on March 30, 2022.
Pope Francis delivers his speech during his Wednesday General Audience at Paul VI Audience Hall in Vatican City on March 30, 2022.
Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Related article Pope apologizes to Indigenous people of Canada

“I ask forgiveness, in particular, for the ways in which many members of the Church and of religious communities cooperated, not least through their indifference, in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation promoted by the governments of that time, which culminated in the system of residential schools,” the pontiff said.

Last year, hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered on the grounds of former residential schools in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Pope Francis makes remarks as he gives an apology for the treatment of First Nations children in Canada's Residential School system, during his visit on Monday.
Pope Francis makes remarks as he gives an apology for the treatment of First Nations children in Canada's Residential School system, during his visit on Monday.
Cole Burston/Getty Images

And Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission has reported that more than 4,000 Indigenous children died either from neglect or abuse in residential schools, many of which were run by the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis looks on during an exclusive interview with Reuters, at the Vatican, July 2, 2022.
Pope Francis looks on during an exclusive interview with Reuters, at the Vatican, July 2, 2022.
Remo Casilli/Reuters

Related article Pope Francis visiting Canada to apologize for Indigenous abuse in Catholic residential schools

“In the face of this deplorable evil, the Church kneels before God and implores his forgiveness for the sins of her children,” said the Pope. “I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples.”

And the pontiff underlined that his apology is just the first step in righting these wrongs.

“An important part of this process will be to conduct a serious investigation into the facts of what took place in the past and to assist the survivors of the residential schools to experience healing from the traumas they suffered,” he said.

The Pope will also travel to Quebec and Iqaluit, capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, during the trip. Two Canadian cardinals will accompany him throughout his visit, Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Cardinal Michael Czerny.

Francis, 85, had a trip to Africa earlier this month canceled due to issues with his knee.

CNN’s Rob Picheta, Livia Borghese and Cecilia Armstrong contributed to this report.