Pope Francis said Sunday that talks were underway to return colonial-era artifacts in the Vatican Museum that were acquired from Indigenous peoples in Canada and voiced a willingness to return other problematic objects in the VaticanB次元官网网址檚 collection on a case-by-case basis.

B次元官网网址淭he Seventh Commandment comes to mind: If you steal something you have to give it back,B次元官网网址� Francis said during an airborne press conference en route home from Hungary.

Recently, Francis returned to Greece the three fragments of the Parthenon sculptures that had been in the Vatican MuseumsB次元官网网址� collection for two centuries. The pope said Sunday that the restitution was B次元官网网址渢he right gestureB次元官网网址� and that when such returns were possible, museums should undertake them.

B次元官网网址淚n the case where you can return things, where itB次元官网网址檚 necessary to make a gesture, better to do it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes you canB次元官网网址檛, if there are no possibilities B次元官网网址� political, real or concrete possibilities. But in the cases where you can restitute, please do it. ItB次元官网网址檚 good for everyone, so you donB次元官网网址檛 get used to putting your hands in someone elseB次元官网网址檚 pockets.B次元官网网址�

His comments to The Associated Press were his first on a question that has forced many museums in Europe and North America to rethink their ethnographic and anthropological collections. The restitution debate has gathered steam amid a reckoning for the colonial conquests of Africa, the Americas and Asia and demands for restitution of war loot by the countries and communities of origin.

The Vatican has an extensive collection of artifacts and art made by Indigenous peoples from around the world, much of it sent to Rome by Catholic missionaries for a 1925 exhibition in the Vatican gardens.

The Vatican insists the artifacts, including ceremonial masks, wampum belts and feathered headdresses, were gifts. But Indigenous scholars dispute whether Native peoples at the time given the power differentials at play in colonial periods.

Francis, the first-ever Latin American pope, knows the history well. Last year, he travelled to Canada for abuses they endured at the hands of Catholic missionaries at residential schools.

In the run-up to the visit, Indigenous groups visited the VaticanB次元官网网址檚 Anima Mundi museum, saw some of their ancestorsB次元官网网址� handiwork, and expressed interest in having greater access to the collection, and the return of some items.

B次元官网网址淭he restitution of the Indigenous things is underway with Canada B次元官网网址� at least we agreed to do it,B次元官网网址� Francis said, adding that the Holy SeeB次元官网网址檚 experience meeting with the Indigenous groups in Canada had been B次元官网网址渧ery fruitful.B次元官网网址�

Indeed, just a few weeks ago in another follow-up to the Canada apology, the the B次元官网网址淒octrine of Discovery.B次元官网网址� This theory, backed by 15th-century B次元官网网址減apal bulls,B次元官网网址� was used to legitimize the colonial-era seizure of Native lands and forms the basis of some property laws today in the U.S. and Canada.

Francis recalled that looting was a common feature during colonial-era wars and occupations. B次元官网网址淭hey took these decisions to take the good things from the other,B次元官网网址� he said.

He said going forward, museums B次元官网网址渉ave to make a discernment in each case,B次元官网网址� but that where possible, restitution of objects should be made.

B次元官网网址淎nd if tomorrow the Egyptians come and ask for the obelisk, what will we do?B次元官网网址� he said chuckling, referring to the great obelisk that stands at the center of St. PeterB次元官网网址檚 Square. The Roman Emperor Caligula brought the ancient obelisk to Rome more than 2,000 years ago, and it was moved to the square in the 16th century.

The Vatican Museums are mentioned in the 2020 book B次元官网网址淭he Brutish Museums,B次元官网网址� which recounts the sacking of the Royal Court of Benin City by British forces in 1897 and the subsequent dispersal in museums and collections around the globe of its famed Benin Bronzes.

In the appendix, the Vatican is listed as one of the museums, galleries or collections that B次元官网网址渕ayB次元官网网址� have objects looted from Benin City, in todayB次元官网网址檚 Nigeria, in 1897.

The Vatican Museums hasnB次元官网网址檛 responded to requests for information. The Nigerian Embassy to the Holy See, asked recently about the claim, said its B次元官网网址渃ontact in the Vatican is currently looking into the issue.B次元官网网址�

Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press

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