According to a new study from the Angus Reid Institute, 59 percent of Canadians view the Pope’s recent visit and apology as a step towards reconciliation.
Pope Francis was in Canada from July 25th to August 2nd for what he dubbed a Pilgrimage of Penance.
During that time, he again issued an apology for the role Christians played in the Residential School tragedy, though stopped short of admitting the Catholic Church’s true role.
According to the study, 40 percent of survey respondents viewed the apology as a small step towards reconciliation, while 18 percent saw it as a significant one.
Among Indigenous respondents, 54 percent saw it as a contribution to reconciliation, while 36 percent felt it offered no practical impact.
In addition, 64 percent said they felt the Pontiff’s apology was sincere, while 24 percent thought it was not.
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