Pope Expresses Regret For Abuse at Canadian Aboriginal Schools

The Pope expressed his personal sorrow at the Vatican during a private audience with the delegation, which included Assembly of First Nations Leader Phil Fontaine, aboriginal elders and residential school survivors.

During the meeting in the Vatican's Paul VI auditorium, Benedict emphasized that "acts of abuse cannot be tolerated," the church said.

"Given the sufferings that some indigenous children experienced in the Canadian residential school system, the Holy Father expressed his sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the church and he offered his sympathy and prayerful solidarity," a statement from the Vatican said.