The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops announced on Saturday that 62 Indigenous artifacts from the Vatican Museums are being returned to Canada as a gift from Pope Leo XIV. This initiative was originally set in motion by the late Pope Francis, who aimed to support the ongoing relationship between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Pope Leo XIV has honored Pope Francis's wish by transferring these sacred and cultural artifacts, which symbolize mutual respect between the Church and Indigenous communities. Bishop Pierre Goudreault, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), stated, "The Pope’s gift is a tangible sign of his desire to help Canada’s Bishops walk alongside Indigenous Peoples in a spirit of reconciliation during the Jubilee Year of Hope and beyond."

The artifacts will be handed over to National Indigenous Organizations and will eventually be returned to their original communities. These items were sent to the Vatican approximately 100 years ago for the 1925 World Missionary Exposition and have since been part of the Vatican Museums’ ethnological collection.

This return of artifacts marks a significant step in the reconciliation process between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada, reflecting a commitment to healing and respect for cultural heritage.