Latest news with #AnimaMundiEthnologicalMuseum
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Vatican hiding sacred treasures, countries demand return of indigenous artifacts
The Vatican's Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum , nestled in the heart of Vatican City , is home to thousands of Indigenous artifacts from every corner of the globe. Originally collected for a 1925 Vatican exhibition showcasing the reach of Catholic missions, these items now sit at the center of a growing international debate: Should these sacred and culturally vital objects be returned to their communities of origin? As calls for repatriation grow louder, here's a closer look at which countries are demanding the return of their heritage, what artifacts are involved, and where the Vatican stands. Canada: A call for healing and justice Canadian Indigenous leaders are among the most vocal, seeking the return of sacred items such as a rare Inuvialuit sealskin, Cree leather gloves, a two-century-old wampum belt, a Gwich'in baby belt, a beluga tooth necklace, sacred pipes, medicine bundles, ceremonial attire, and an Inuit kayak. These artifacts were taken during a period marked by forced assimilation and residential schools. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Car Novels Undo Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations emphasized, 'Every one of these artifacts is a sacred item, essential for the healing journey of numerous survivors of residential schools'. Floyd Favel, curator at the Chief Poundmaker Museum, added, 'They embody our history and culture. They strengthen our connection to the past, which is increasingly vital as our languages and cultures face significant threats'. Victoria Pruden, president of the Métis National Council, reflected on viewing the artifacts: 'You couldn't help but feel that tug in your heart that those items should be back home. And they should be somewhere where our children and our grandchildren and our communities could enjoy them and contemplate them'. Live Events Despite Pope Francis 's 2022 apology and pledge to return the artifacts, none have yet been repatriated. 'There's a lot of rhetoric around truth and reconciliation, a lot of sort of performativity around it, but there hasn't been any restitution to date,' said Indigenous advocate Bell. Ecuador: A rare success story Ecuador is among the few countries to have seen a successful return: the Vatican repatriated a shrunken head used in Jivaroan rituals back to Ecuador in 2021. This act is frequently cited as a hopeful precedent by other nations seeking the return of their own heritage. Australia: Seeking recognition and respect The Vatican's collection includes feathered headdresses, masks, and ceremonial objects from Aboriginal Australian communities. Aboriginal leaders argue these items remain stripped of context and meaning, and their calls for return persist. The Vatican claims these were gifts, but many Indigenous advocates and historians dispute whether genuine consent was possible under colonial power dynamics. The Vatican's position: gifts or appropriation? The Vatican maintains that most items were received as gifts, but Pope Francis has acknowledged the need for restitution. 'The Seventh Commandment comes to mind: If you steal something you have to give it back,' he said, signaling openness to returning artifacts on a case-by-case basis. On the broader issue, Pope Francis stated, 'The restitution of the Indigenous things is underway with Canada — at least we agreed to do it… In the case where you can return things, where it's necessary to make a gesture, better to do it. It's good for everyone, so you don't get used to putting your hands in someone else's pockets'. As the international spotlight grows, the Vatican faces mounting pressure to address these claims transparently and justly. For many Indigenous communities, the return of these artifacts is not just about reclaiming objects, but about restoring identity, dignity, and cultural continuity. As Victoria Pruden put it, 'What an important symbol of reconciliation returning them will be when we manage to accomplish that".
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pope Leo XIV just took office, but Canada has a big request already
As Pope Leo XIV officially begins his papacy on May 18 in Vatican City, Indigenous leaders in Canada are urging the Catholic Church to return sacred items taken from their communities, artifacts they say are long overdue for repatriation. The Catholic Church has played a central role in colonial history. Through the 'Doctrine of Discovery', a controversial legal principle rooted in 15th-century papal bulls, the Church once justified the colonization and forced conversion of Indigenous peoples worldwide, including in Canada. Catholic missionaries collected thousands of items from Indigenous communities under the belief they were "preserving" culture, often without consent. Also Read: Canada is hosting King Charles and Camilla. What this visit tells us about its future These artifacts now sit in the Vatican's Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum. Many hold deep cultural and spiritual meaning to the Métis, First Nations, and Inuit peoples. Pope Leo XIV inaugurated his papacy today during a grand Mass at St. Peter's Square. Among the 200,000 attendees were Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Victoria Pruden, President of the Métis National Council . Live Events Indigenous leaders in Canada see this new beginning as a moment to act. "This is a critical opportunity," said Lyndon Linklater, a knowledge keeper from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner in Saskatchewan. "The artifacts hold our ancestors' voices. They should come home." In 2022, Pope Francis, during a visit to Canada, acknowledged the harm caused by residential schools and pledged to return the sacred items. Since then, however, progress has been slow. Also Read: Kristina Michaud tops MP travel spending list, reason Ottawa's location; check the other top spenders in the $32M bill President Pruden, who represented the Métis at the Vatican today, reaffirmed the community's expectations. 'Returning the items is more than symbolic—it is about restoring dignity and healing relationships,' she said. Indigenous communities across Canada now hope Pope Leo XIV will fulfill the Vatican's promises. While today's inauguration marks a historic change in Church leadership, many are watching closely to see if it will also bring long-awaited justice.
Global News
14-05-2025
- General
- Global News
Indigenous groups call on Pope Leo to return thousands of Vatican artifacts
The Vatican Museums are among the world's most popular, featuring vast art collections, including masterpieces by Michelangelo and Raphael, and drawing more than six million visitors every year. But one exhibit in Vatican City is garnering attention for the wrong reasons. The Vatican's Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum holds thousands of Indigenous artifacts that were taken from communities across Canada by Catholic missionaries a century ago. Indigenous Peoples have long called for the artifacts to be repatriated, and in 2022, Pope Francis pledged to finally return them to Canada. Story continues below advertisement But following his death in April and the election of Pope Leo XIV, Indigenous leaders now worry Pope Francis's promise may die with him. 'It could just be swept under the rug,' said Gloria Bell, a Canadian art historian, author and assistant professor at McGill University, who has Metis ancestry. 'These belongings were stolen from Indigenous communities.' View image in full screen Indigenous wood carvings on display at the Vatican's Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum. Global News In 1924, Pope Pius XI called on Catholic missionaries around the world to collect Indigenous artifacts and bring them to the Vatican. The following year, the artifacts were put on display as part of the Vatican's Missionary Exhibition, a landmark event that promoted residential schools and the Church's missions across the globe, which attracted around one million pilgrims and visitors. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The artifacts have since become a permanent collection at the Vatican. Global News toured the Amina Munda exhibit with Bell, who was on a visit to Rome to deliver lectures and expand her research on the artifacts' origins. Story continues below advertisement The wide range of rare and priceless artifacts include a seal skin kayak and a wampum belt. Most of the items are currently held in storage, but dozens are on display. The Vatican exhibit calls them 'gifts.' 'Calling everything a 'gift' is just a false narrative,' Bell said. The Vatican Missionary Exhibition in 1925 promoted the Catholic Church's residential schools and missions across the globe. Provided by Gloria Bell She pointed to an Australian Aboriginal activist, Anthony Martin Fernando, who held a one-man protest at St. Peter's Square during the Vatican Missionary Exhibition in 1925, distributing thousands of leaflets that denounced how the artifacts had been stolen. For his protest, Fernando was arrested and thrown in jail. 'Think of how everything was acquired by missionaries conducting their genocidal work in Indigenous communities in the 1920s, one of the most aggressive assimilative periods in the early 20th century, when these belongings were stolen from Indigenous communities,' Bell said. Story continues below advertisement 'Indigenous children were held against their will in residential schools, and then their materials were put on display in this exhibition as 'trophies' of the pope.' View image in full screen The Inuvialuit kayak, built a century ago in the Mackenzie Delta region, is being held in storage at the Vatican Museums. Provided by Rosanne Casimir In 2022, a delegation of Indigenous leaders from Canada were invited to Rome to meet Pope Francis and discuss reconciliation efforts. During their visit, as a goodwill gesture, Vatican officials privately showed the group some of the artifacts. 'Seeing these items that were made by the hands of, in many cases, women of our great-great-great grandmother's generation, it was very moving, it was very profound,' said Victoria Purden, president of the Metis National Council, who was part of the delegation. 'You couldn't help but feel that tug in your heart that those items should be back home. And they should be somewhere where our children and our grandchildren and our communities could enjoy them and contemplate them.' Story continues below advertisement In 2022, Pope Francis formally apologised to residential school survivors and promised the artifacts would be returned to their communities in Canada. Three years later, it's unclear whether any progress has been made on the file. 'There's a lot of rhetoric around truth and reconciliation, a lot of sort of performativity around it, but there hasn't been any restitution to date,' Bell said. View image in full screen Canadian Art Historian Gloria Bell and Global News reporter Jeff Semple on a tour of the Vatican's Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum, which houses thousands of Indigenous artefacts. Global News The decision of whether to return the artifacts will now ultimately rest with the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV. Global News asked the Canadian Cardinals who participated in the Conclave that elected him whether they expect Pope Leo to fulfill his predecessor's promise. 'The artifacts, the situation is something that I know is underway. There's some reflection,' said Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, the Archbishop of Quebec. 'Let's let things unfold. But I'm sure (Pope Leo) will be interested in that.' Story continues below advertisement Purden, who returned to Vatican City for Pope Francis's funeral and against raised the issue in a meeting with Vatican officials, said she remains optimistic that the artefacts will be returned to their communities. 'What an important symbol of reconciliation returning them will be when we managed to accomplish that,' she said.
