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VATICAN CITY - To be in Vatican City while Pope Benedict XVI expressed "deep sorrow" for the role the Catholic Church played in residential schools was a moving experience for one survivor.

Joachim Bonnetrouge of Fort Providence was one of 23 delegates, and the only one from the NWT invited to take part in the Assembly of First Nations' trip to Vatican City to meet with the Pope.

Joachim Bonnetrouge of Fort Providence, left, in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City with Archbishop James Weisgerber, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishop;, David Chartrand, vice-president of the Metis National Council and Sister Marie Zarownay, a representative of the congregations of women religious, who are included in the Residential School Settlement Agreement. - photo courtesy of Joachim Bonnetrouge

"For me it was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime trip," said Bonnetrouge, who spent at least 13 years in four different residential schools

The trip, however, was about more than just going to Vatican City. Its mission was to bring further exposure to residential schools and raise the public profile of survivors and their experience, Bonnetrouge said.

"It was work well done," he said.

Bonnetrouge and the other members of the delegation participated in the general audience with the Pope in St. Peter's Square on April 29. The delegation was announced publicly as a group of residential school survivors from Canada. At that point, members of the group cheered and the Pope acknowledged them by waving, Bonnetrouge said.

Later the Pope passed within six feet of Bonnetrouge while shaking hands and speaking with people in the square.

"It's quite significant to be in the presence of a church leader," he said.

Following the general audience, Assembly of First Nations' National Chief Phil Fontaine and four other members of the delegation met the Pope in a private meeting that lasted approximately 20 minutes.

Speaking in Italian and through a translator, the Pope "expressed his sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the church and he offered his sympathy and prayerful solidarity," according to Vatican officials.

Fontaine relayed the message to the other delegates, including Bonnetrouge, who weren't part of the private audience.

"That acknowledgment for me was also very big," Bonnetrouge said.

That the head of the Catholic Church acknowledged what happened in residential schools validates what survivors have been saying, he said. The statement shows the church is willing to make amends with aboriginals in Canada and help us in our healing work, said Bonnetrouge, who is the project co-ordinator for the Fort Providence Residential School Society.

Bonnetrouge said he was satisfied with the statement, even though some people took issue that the Pope didn't use the word "sorry."

On Thursday members of the delegation took tours of historical sights around the area, including St. Peter's Basilica and the Roman Coliseum. That night the group was invited to a supper and gathering at the headquarters of the Oblates. The Oblates was one of several Catholic orders involved in running residential schools throughout Canada.

-with files from Andrew Livingstone