By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) – The Pope Francis met this week with representatives of the Canadian Indigenous Peoples to apologize for his role in Catholic schools that abused children and denied their culture.

In what Canada’s Catholic Church describes as a healing and reconciling process, over 30 elders from indigenous communities and residential school survivors will see him multiple times at the Vatican on Monday through Friday.

Canada’s Bishops released a statement saying that “We anticipate that these private encounters would allow the Holy Father will meaningfully address both trauma and legacy of pain faced by Indigenous Peoples up to this day.”

It stated that the meetings will also be focused on the “role of the Catholic Church within the residential school system which contributed to suppression of indigenous languages and culture, as well as spirituality.”

With the discovery of remains from 215 students at Kamloops, British Columbia’s former Indian Residential School, another scandal about recurring schools broke out last year.

After the school closed in 1978, its discovery opened up old wounds. This led to renewed demands for accountability. Since then, hundreds of unmarked graves have been discovered.

Gerald Antoine (chief of Dene People and Regional Chief of Assembly of First Nations), said that the meeting was an “important step.”

A Canadian news conference was held by him. He said the delegates will ask the pope to “visit our family” and to apologize. “I think that this issue is overdue.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requested Francis to apologize during his visit to Canada.

In October last year, Francis was invited by the Canadian bishops to go. According to sources from Vatican, he is likely to travel this summer.

Schools were established with the stated purpose of assimilating indigenous children. The schools were operated from 1831 to 1996. They were managed by several Christian faiths, the majority by the Catholic Church.

Around 150,000 children were removed from their families. Many children were subjected in 2015 to abuse, violence and malnutrition. This was what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called “cultural genocide.”

Before addressing all of us on Friday, the pope will hold three private meetings between delegates from the Assembly of First Nations and the Inuit people.

Francis was elected pope almost two decades after closing the last school. Francis has already apologized to the world for his role in colonialism throughout the Americas.