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Thousands of residential and day school survivors and their families from across Canada gathered in Maskwacis, Alta., to meet with Pope Francis. The Pope formally apologized to Indigenous peoples for the Catholic Church’s role in cultural destruction and forced assimilation of the residential school system.

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Pope Francis greets faithfuls outside Sacred Heart Church in Edmonton on July 25, 2022.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters

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Gerald Glade hold a photo of his mom Jeannie Glade who was a residential school survivor outside the Sacred Heart Church of the First People in Edmonton.Jason Franson/The Canadian Press

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Pope Francis arrives at the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples to meet with members of the Indigenous community in Edmonton.VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images

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Pope Francis bows his head during service.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

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Spectators wait to see Pope Francis at the Sacred Heart Church of the First People in Edmonton.Jason Franson/The Canadian Press

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Pope Francis speaks to the congregation in Sacred Heart Catholic Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton on July 25, 2022.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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An Indigenous drummer sings a song as Pope Francis enters Sacred Heart Catholic Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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Pope Francis attends a silent prayer at the cemetery during his meeting with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alta.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters

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Sipihko, A Cree woman, weeps after she finished singing O Canada in Cree to Pope Francis at Maskwacis, Alta.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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A headdress is placed on the head of Pope Francis following his apology for the residential school system at Maskwacis, Alta.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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Indigenous men shout war cries during the opening ceremonies for Pope Francis at Maskwacis, Alta.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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A man weeps during the apology from Pope Francis for the harm caused by the residential school system at Maskwacis, Alta.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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Chief Willy Littlechild prepares to present Pope Francis a headdress following the Pope's apology for the residential school system at Maskwacis.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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Pope Francis meets with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alta.AMBER BRACKEN/Reuters

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People hold a banner with the names of missing children under the residential school system during the opening ceremonies for Pope Francis at Maskwacis, Alta.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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Pope Francis speaks to members of the Indigenous community at Muskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alta.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images

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A dancer performs as Pope Francis meets with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alta.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters

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Pope Francis prays at a gravesite at the Ermineskin Cree Nation Cemetery in Maskwacis, Alberta.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

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Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alberta.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters

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Indigenous community members await the arrival of Pope Francis, at Muskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alberta.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images

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Pope Francis arrives to attend a silent prayer at the cemetery during his meeting with First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alberta.AMBER BRACKEN/Reuters

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Pope Francis prays in a cemetery at the former residential school, in Maskwacis, Alberta.Gregorio Borgia/The Associated Press

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Dennis Lightning offers a smudge ceremony with Buffalo sage to an indigenous community member before the papal visit at Muskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alberta.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images

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The Ermineskin cemetery during a visit of Pope Francis in Maskwacis, Alberta.VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images

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A vehicle used by Pope Francis in Maskwacis, Alberta.IAN WILLMS/The New York Times News Service

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Pope Francis prays with Indigenous peoples in a cemetery at the former residential school, in Maskwacis, Alberta.Gregorio Borgia/The Associated Press

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An indigenous dancer arrives for the visit of Pope Francis in Maskwacis, Alberta.TODD KOROL/Reuters

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Indigenous people gather to see Pope Francis on his visit to Maskwacis, Alta. during his papal visit across Canada.Jason Franson/The Canadian Press

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Pope Francis to address Indigenous people on his visit to Maskwacis, Alberta.Jason Franson/The Canadian Press

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Indigenous people gather to see Pope Francis on his visit to Maskwacis, Alberta.Jason Franson/The Canadian Press

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Dummers sing and play during the opening ceremony at Maskwacis prior to Pope Francis apologizing for the residential school system.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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Thousands of Indigenous people gather to see Pope Francis on his visit to Maskwacis, Alberta.Jason Franson/The Canadian Press

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Former Chiefs hold up Eagle Totems at Maskwacis prior to Pope Francis apologizing for the residential school system.Gavin John/The Globe and Mail

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A view of graves ahead of Pope Francis' visit to the cemetery in Maskwacis, Alberta.GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/Reuters

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Wayne Carlick, residential school survivor, cultural coordinator, elder and language speaker of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, stands for a portrait before the papal visit at Muskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alberta.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images

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Teepees are shown on the the former Ermineskin Indian Residential School as Pope Francis continues his papal visit across Canada in Maskwacis, Alberta.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

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Members of the indigenous community hold up the memorial banner, which was the first national, public record of the names of the children who did not return home from the residential schools across Canada, as Pope Francis meets with Indigenous leaders at Muskwa Park in Maskwacis, Alberta.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images

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