Vatican Hands 62 Indigenous Artifacts to Canadian Bishops in Repatriation Move

Overview

• Pope Leo XIV presented the items and documentation during an audience, with a joint Vatican–Canadian bishops statement describing the gesture as dialogue, respect and fraternity.
• The pieces come from the Vatican Museums’ Anima Mundi collection, largely sent by missionaries for a 1925 Vatican exhibition during the Holy Year centenary now being marked.
• The returned objects include an Inuit kayak, wampum belts, war clubs and masks that Indigenous leaders first viewed and requested in 2022.
• The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops pledged proper protection and preservation and reiterated that ultimate custody is expected to rest with Indigenous communities, with transfer to begin as soon as possible.
• Canada’s ambassador to the Holy See said the shipment to Canada is slated for December 6, while disputes over provenance persist as the Vatican calls the items gifts and Indigenous groups question consent given assimilation-era pressures.