Pope leaves Rome for Canada to make amends for Indigenous school scandal

Pope Francis on Sunday departed Rome for Canada for a chance to personally apologise to Indigenous survivors of abuse committed over a span of decades at residential schools run by the Catholic Church.

The Pope’s plane took off from Rome shortly after 9:00 am local time (0700 GMT). The 85-year-old pope, who has been suffering from knee pain, was in a wheelchair and used a lifting platform to board the plane, an AFP correspondent accompanying him said.