Officials at the Vatican are preparing for the worst as delegations of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people descend on Rome for meetings with Pope Francis.
Although most Indigenous leaders have so far only called on the Holy See to apologize for the brutal history of Catholic Church-run residential schools in Canada, there have been calls for reparations.
“If Indigenous people do ask for reparations, His Holiness may have to pawn one of his precious diamond-encrusted crucifixion necklaces, or one of his many, many priceless hats,” said a Vatican spokesperson. “It’s a terrifying prospect and while apologizing would certainly be much easier, we’re not really feeling that either.”
For decades, the Catholic Church has refused calls from Indigenous people to outright apologize for its role in running residential schools. When Canada issued its own apology in 2009, then-Pope Benedict XVI expressed sorrow. While in 2021, Pope Francis expressed an official expression of a bit more sorrow.