What's happened
Negotiations have accelerated for the Vatican to return ethnographic items, including an Inuit kayak, from its collection. The items, sent to Rome in 1925 for a church exhibition, are linked to Pope Francis's 2022 apology to Indigenous leaders over residential schools. The Vatican maintains they were gifts to Pope Pius XI.
What's behind the headline?
The Vatican's effort to return Indigenous artifacts reflects a broader shift towards reconciliation and acknowledgment of historical wrongs. The artifacts, originally presented as 'gifts' to celebrate the church's global reach, now symbolize the complex legacy of colonialism and religious evangelism. The negotiations indicate a recognition of Indigenous rights and a willingness to address past cultural harms. However, the process also highlights ongoing tensions between institutional preservation and cultural restitution. The Vatican's stance as custodians of these items will be tested as diplomatic and cultural negotiations unfold, potentially setting a precedent for other institutions holding Indigenous artifacts worldwide.
What the papers say
AP News and The Independent both report on the Vatican's negotiations to return Indigenous artifacts, emphasizing the context of Pope Francis's 2022 apology and the artifacts' origins. AP News notes the artifacts were part of a 1925 exhibition, while The Independent highlights the broader reconciliation efforts. The articles collectively underscore the significance of this move within the ongoing process of addressing historical injustices linked to colonialism and religious missions.
How we got here
The Vatican's ethnographic collection, part of the Anima Mundi museum, includes Indigenous artifacts sent to Rome by Catholic missionaries for a 1925 exhibition during Holy Year. The move to return these items gained momentum after Pope Francis's 2022 meeting with Indigenous leaders, who sought acknowledgment for the church's role in Canada's residential schools.
Go deeper
- How are Indigenous communities reacting to the Vatican's efforts?
- What are the legal and diplomatic hurdles involved?
- Could this set a precedent for other institutions?
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Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory