Justin Trudeau asks the Pope for an apology

Justin Trudeau asks the Pope for an apology



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the Vatican on Monday where he is thought to have asked Pope Francis for an apology.

The 45-year-old wore a somber expression as he arrived for his private audience with Pope Francis this afternoon.

The politician was expected to ask the Pope for a formal apology for the role the Catholic Church played in the residential school system.



Trudeau was joined by his supportive wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau who looked modest as she joined  her husband to the Vatican.

The couple cut a somber figure in black and Sophie, 42, added a small pillbox hat complete with a veil to her ensemble.

The request for an apology is based on a report on Canada's history of taking indigenous children away from their parents and sending them to residential schools.



Many of those children who were taken from their families are reported to have suffered neglect and abuse.  

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) report has also called from an apology pointing out that Pope Benedict issued an apology on behalf of the catholic church in 2010 for the abuse of children by Catholic priests in Ireland.

Photos from inside the Apostolic Palace appear to show little amonisity between the pontiff and Trudeau with the PM even presenting the Pope with a gift as a gesture of good will.



The Canadian couple could be seen posing for official photos where Sophie could be seen bowing her head in respect.

Earlier today  the Canadian Prime Minister joined team players at the kickoff of a friendly football game between refugees and Fiorentina women's soccer team at a sporting event promoting social integration at Rome's Olympic stadium.

The 45-year-old even showed his support for legend Francesco Totti by wearing his number 10 shirt as he posed for photographs just a day the football ace announced his retirement.



He may not have been in the starting XI on Sunday but Roma's season ending clash with Genoa was only really about one man: Francesco Totti.

After the final whistle there were tears from the 40-year-old as he waved goodbye to the Stadio Olimpico. He was presented with a framed shirt whilst fans held up cards bearing his name and famous number.

He then took the microphone to say what proved an emotional farewell to the club's supporters, during which he shared his early memories, his immense pride and thoughts on the future.



He said: 'Over the past few months, I’ve asked myself why I’m being awoken from this dream.

'Imagine you’re a child having a good dream… and your mother wakes you up to go to school. You want to keep dreaming… you try to slip back into the dream but you never can. This time, it’s not a dream, but reality and I can no longer slip back in.

'I want to dedicate this letter to all of you – to all the children that have supported me. To the children of yesterday, who have grown up and become parents and to the children of today, who perhaps shout ‘Tottigol’. I’d like to think that for you, my career has become a fairytale for you to pass on.

'It’s really over now. I’m taking off that jersey for the final time.'



Despite Totti's absence from the starting XI, the club were not going to stand on ceremony however. To commemorate 'the King of Rome', I Giallorossi wore special shirts to mark the occasion. A 'Totti 10' logo was emblazoned on the sleeves, accompanied by a special message containing the quote: 'Una squadra per la vita', which translates as, 'one team for a lifetime'.

Statues were erected outside the Stadio Olimpico with fans taking pictures of Totti in a number of famous poses. A small plane flew over the Olimpico with a banner reading 'Thank you captain'. Roman daily Il Tempo (The Time) even changed their masthead on the front page to mark the occasion, adopting the moniker 'Totti's Time'.

What the future holds for Totti is still unclear. He has not officially confirmed his retirement, only confirmed that the Genoa game will be his last for Roma.

Totti has dominated talk in May for several years, with an annual discussion on whether he will be waking away from the game that has elevated him to royal status in the Italian capital.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a tour of