Miles Morrisseau
ICT
The billowing white smoke told the world that a new Pope had been chosen. It would be a handful of minutes before the new Pope stepped forward and Robert Francis Prevost, the first American to do so, was revealed to the world. He has taken on the name Pope Leo XIV.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, who had attended the funeral of Pope Francis as part of the Canadian delegation, congratulated the new Pope. “On behalf of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), I extend warm congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. We welcome his message of peace and bridge building among all people,” said Woodhouse Nepinak.
The National Chief wants to continue dialogue with the Catholic church regarding reconciling the long and painful history of the Indian Residential School system. The Catholic Church ran the majority of schools during the period of over a century when the Canadian government partnered with churches to assimilate Indigenous children.
“I invite His Holiness to continue the important work of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, especially those who suffered the harms of Residential Schools,” stated Woodhouse Nepinak, while also calling on the Vatican to return sacred First Nations items. “We must continue dialogue on many issues including repatriation of sacred First Nations items housed in the Vatican. I encourage His Holiness to make reconciliation a top priority and to engage with our people and communities to continue healing for all.”
Woodhouse Nepinak attended the funeral of Pope Francis as part of the Canadian delegation led by Governor General Marie Simon and which included Metis National Council President Victoria Pruden.
At that time, Pruden called on Catholic institutions in Canada to continue to work with Indigenous people regardless who was named Pope and also asked for Metis cultural artifacts to be returned by the Vatican.
“We call on the Catholic Church in Canada to continue meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples and to take further action towards reconciliation,” stated Pruden in an April 26 release. “This includes calling on the Vatican’s Anima Mundi Museum to work with Métis knowledge-keepers, historians, and other experts to identify and return Métis cultural artifacts. These items are part of our stories and identities, and their return aligns with the Vatican’s rejection of the Doctrine of Discovery and support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
Governor General Mary Simon, Inuk, is the representative of the Crown and King Charles in the Canadian parliamentary government. Simon posted “heartfelt congratulations to the Catholic community worldwide” on the election of the new Pope.
“As the Catholic Church enters this new chapter, may the leadership of the new Holy Father be a source of hope, compassion, and unity, guiding the Church and inspiring people toward peace and reconciliation,” Simon posted to X. “We look forward to witnessing a continued commitment to dialogue and shared values that strengthen our global communities.”
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