Pope apologises for 'evil' done to Canadian Indigenous school

Pope Francis on Monday apologised for the "evil" inflicted on the Indigenous peoples of Canada on the first day of a visit focused on addressing decades of abuse committed at Catholic institutions.

The plea from the leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics was met with applause by a crowd of First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in Maskwacis, in western Alberta province -- some of whom were taken from their families as children in what has been branded a "cultural genocide."

"I am sorry," 85-year-old pontiff, who remained seated as he delivered his address at the site of one of the largest of Canada's infamous former residential schools for Indigenous children.

"I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the indigenous peoples," said the pope, as he formally acknowledged "many members of the Church" had cooperated in "cultural destruction and forced assimilation."

As he spoke the emotion was palpable in Maskwacis, an Indigenous community south of provincial capital Edmonton which was the site of the Ermineskin residential school until it closed in 1975.

Several hundred people, many in traditional clothing, were in attendance, along with...