Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his ''sorrow'' for the abuse suffered by some Inuit and other native Canadians at Christian-run schools in the last century, the Vatican said Wednesday.
Meeting a delegation of native Canadians led by the Grand Chief of Canada's Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, the pontiff said he was sorry for ''the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the Church'' in the residential schools, most of which were Catholic.
Around 150,000 native Canadians were forced to attend the schools between the 19th century and the 1970s in a government bid to remove them from the influence of their own culture, which was considered inferior.
The Canadian government has admitted that sexual and physical abuse was rife in the schools, where pupils were beaten for using their native languages and separated from their families, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a formal apology last year.
Pope Benedict on Wednesday ''listened to the stories and concerns'' of the delegation of native Canadians and ''prayed that all those affected would experience healing'', the Vatican said.
The pontiff also underlined that ''acts of abuse cannot be tolerated in society'', it added.
Fontaine, who himself suffered abuse as a child, has long been seeking an apology from the pope, especially after Benedict acknowledged American and Australian child abuse in 2008.
On Wednesday he said he was ''satisfied'' with the pope's remarks.
''The pope expressed his sorrow, his profound regret, and above all the readiness of the Church to seriously commit to reconciliation,'' Fontaine said at a press conference following the meeting.
''All of this is very important for us. Personally, with his words the pope has given me the comfort I was seeking and the encouragement to try to reconstruct relations between the Catholic Church and our community''.
The delegation, accompanied by Canadian bishops' conference president James Weisgerber, presented Benedict with traditional native gifts, including blankets, moccasins and an eagle feather, which Fontaine said was ''the greatest honour'' that could be given in his community.
