What did the Pope’s apology mean? And what comes next?

In today’s Big Story podcast, now that the Pope has left Canada, it’s worth looking at what he’s leaving behind. For some, his visit and apology was historic and meaningful. For others, it was underwhelming and left many wondering what else the Vatican plans to do for residential school survivors and Indigenous people.

Was the Papal Apology a sincere expression of regret and compassion and a promise to do better? Or was it just checking off call to action #58 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s list?

Patty Krawec, is an Anishnaabe writer from Lac Seul First Nation, co-host of the podcast, Medicine for the Resistance, and author of the upcoming book, Becoming Kin. She joins us on The Big Story to unpack the meaning of the Pope’s apology, who it touched, and what he neglected to address.

“The apology was important, it was necessary to validate the survivors, but that is not where the solution for our communities lies, the solution for our communities lies within ourselves, because the colonial state failed,” said Krawec.

Did the Pope’s visit help to heal the pain of survivors and the grief of their families? Or will it be seen as an unsatisfying end to a story that once hoped for so much more real change? Or … both? What needs to come from this historic apology to make it meaningful?

You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.

You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.