Pope Francis expressed pain on Sunday for the discovery of the bodies of 215 indigenous students in a church-run boarding school in Canada and pressured religious and political authorities to shed light on “this sad incident.” But he did not offer the apology that the Canadian Prime Minister was seeking.

Francis called on the believers in St. Peter’s Square to promote healing, but did not mention Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim that the Vatican apologized and took responsibility two days ago. ..

From the 19th century to the 1970s, more than 150,000 indigenous children were forced to attend state-sponsored Christian schools as part of a campaign to assimilate into Canadian society.

The Canadian government has admitted that physical and sexual abuse is rampant in schools, and students have been beaten to speak their native language.

Last month, ground penetrating radar was used to identify children’s bodies at the Kamloops Indian Boarding School in Kamloops, British Columbia. The school is Canada’s largest facility and was run by the Catholic Church from 1890 to 1969.

“I’m painfully chasing the upset Canadian news that the bodies of 215 children have been found.”

“I express my closeness to the Canadian people traumatized by the shocking news, along with the Canadian bishops and the entire Canadian Catholic Church,” Francis said.

“This sad discovery further raises awareness of the sadness and suffering of the past,” he added.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the church of “silence” and “not stepping up” on Friday, formally apologizing and calling for a correction of an important role in the country’s former church-run indigenous boarding school system. T.

He said when he met Francis in the Vatican in 2017, he “progressed an apology” and asked him to publish the record. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, “We still have resistance from the church. I’m watching, and I’m probably against the Canadian church. “

Rosanne Casimir, chief of Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation, British Columbia, said his country wanted a public apology from the Catholic Church. The Missionary Oblates, which ran nearly half of Canada’s boarding schools, also said it hadn’t released any records about the Kamloops school.

Francis’s comment talked about healing, but not about apologies.

“May political and religious authorities continue to work together with the determination to shed light on this sad event and humbly commit to the path of reconciliation and healing,” Francis said.

“These difficult moments distance us from the colonial model and today’s idealistic colonization, recognizing, interacting with, respecting and sharing the rights and cultural values ​​of all Canadian daughters and sons. It represents a strong desire to walk, “said the Pope.

“Let’s entrust the souls of all the children who died in the Canadian boarding school to the Lord,” the Pope added. “Pray for your family and for the sorrowful indigenous Canadian community.” Francis then called on the general public in the square under the window to pray quietly. It was.

Last week, a Vatican spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on a formal apology request from the Pope.

On Wednesday, Vancouver Archbishop Michael Miller tweeted, “I would like to express my deepest apologies and condolences to the families and communities that were overwhelmed by this horrific news.” “There is no doubt that the church will implement the government’s colonial policy that has devastated children, families and communities.”

The United States, Presbyterians, and Anglican Church have apologized for their role in abuse, as well as the Government of Canada, which has offered damages.

Among the many recommendations of the Truth Commission set up by the government was the Pope’s apology.

In 2009, then Pope Benedict XVI met with former students and survivors to talk about his “personal suffering” for their suffering. But his words were not explained as an apology.