Pope Francis’ legacy for First Nations people
Australian First Nation Catholics were holding on to the hope that Pope Francis would make a visit to Australia, and perhaps apologise or recognise the Stolen Generations during his Papacy. This was not to be.
To honour the late Pope’s concern and compassion for the history and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples we share the following articles:
Remote Ltyentye Apurte Catholic community pays tribute to Pope Francis | ABC News | By Anisha Pillarisetty |24 April 2025
Ltyentye Apurte, known also as Santa Teresa, in the remote Northern Territory, is a former mission town with a population of about 600 people. Of these, over 80% identify as Catholic. It is one of the most Catholic places in Australia. Residents have made Catholicism their own, by championing their cultural knowledge.
“Our belief in our language and culture and Catholic faith are joined together as one.” Says Eastern Arrernte artist Clare Young
‘We are still here’: First Nations people reflect on the passing of Pope Francis | SBS NITV | 23 April 2025
For Indigenous Catholics Pope Francis’ legacy includes support for Indigenous rights but also a complicated record on victims of clergy abuse. ‘For some, he was a figure of hope… For others, his passing renews calls for truth, recognition, and healing within the Catholic Church in Australia.’
Aboriginal Leader Visits Vatican | YouTube EWTN | 2023
Watch: Interview with Dr. Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann
Australian Indigenous leader in the Vatican for week-long visit | Vatican News | By Joseph Tulloch | 30 May 2023
Dr Ungunmerr Baumann, one of Australia’s most respected Aboriginal leaders met with Pope Francis and other senior Vatican figures to unveil a new artwork at the Vatican Museums. Her visit was timed to coincide with Australia’s Reconciliation Week.
At the bottom of this article is a link to a portion of Tulloch’s interview with Dr Ungunmerr Baumann where she talks about finding God in nature. Scroll down to listen.
As Pope Francis recognises church abuse of First Nations Canadians, calls for Stolen Generations apology grow | National Indigenous Times | by Tom Zaunmayr | 26 July 2022
Survivors of Australia’s Stolen Generations are calling on Pope Francis to apologise for atrocities committed by the Catholic Church against Australia’s Stolen Generations survivors.
Pope Francis receives landmark Uluru document | The Catholic Weekly | 2 June 2022
The late Ms Theresa Ardle, former Director of Gweagal Cultural Connections and lecturer in Aboriginal spirituality at ACU, met Pope Francis by chance while in Rome to deliver a presentation at ACU’s Rome campus during Laudato Si’ Week.
“I was so proud that I wore an Aboriginal flag …and I was very conscious too that Pope Francis has done so much for Indigenous peoples around the world, especially in his own home country of Argentina, where he has stood in solidarity with Indigenous peoples in the Amazon region”. Theresa Ardle