Vatican Returns Indigenous Artefacts to Canada in Landmark Repatriation

In a significant act of reconciliation, the Vatican has returned 62 artefacts connected to the Indigenous peoples of Canada to the country’s Catholic bishops. A statement described the move as “a concrete sign of dialogue, respect and fraternity.” The objects were gifted by Pope Leo to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), which has pledged to transfer them to National Indigenous Organizations “as soon as possible.” These organizations will then ensure the sacred items are finally reunited with their communities of origin, closing a chapter of separation that lasted nearly a century.

The artefacts originally left Canada when Catholic missionaries sent them to Rome for a 1925 exhibition. Many later became part of the Vatican Museums’ collection. This repatriation fulfills a key part of the discussions between Church and Indigenous leaders, building on the historic apology issued by the late Pope Francis in 2022 for the Church’s role in the residential school system. The move was welcomed by Canadian officials, with Foreign Minister Anita Anand stating it “honours the diverse cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples and supports ongoing efforts toward truth, justice, and reconciliation.”