In his homily, Francis said the Catholic Church in Canada is on a new path after being destroyed by “the evil committed by some of its sons and daughters.” He said tackling sexual abuse and other similar “crimes” required “firm action” and “irreversible commitment”. Francis apologized during stops in Alberta and Quebec for the role Catholic institutions played in the indigenous school system, but until now had not spoken directly about sexual abuse. His sermon in Quebec City also says that as part of reconciliation efforts, the Christian community can never again be “contaminated” by the idea that one culture is superior to others. Indigenous people have expressed a mix of hope and skepticism about the pope’s visit, with some saying Thursday they want to hear about the actions that will follow the pontiff’s historic apology.
