Vatican’s Artifact Repatriation: Syncretism Masquerading as Reconciliation
The B.C. Catholic portal reports (December 8, 2025) on a Montreal ceremony where “Pope” Leo XIV transferred 62 Indigenous artifacts from the Vatican Museums to Canadian “bishops” for repatriation. The event, framed as part of the “Jubilee of Hope,” featured “Archbishop” Richard Smith praising the gesture as “a gift freely given” promoting reconciliation. Indigenous leaders described the returned items as “living relatives,” with Inuvialuit Regional Corporation CEO Duane Ningaqsiq Smith calling the kayak’s return “a historic step in revitalizing… cultural identity.” The artifacts—including sacred bundles and carvings—will be housed temporarily at the Canadian Museum of History while Indigenous groups determine final disposition.









