The prime minister’s calling on the Catholic Church to ”step up” and take responsibility for its role in Canada’s residential school system.

Justin Trudeau says, as a Catholic, he’s deeply disappointed by the church’s position ”now and over the past many years.”

He recalled bringing it up with Pope during a visit to the Vatican in 2017.

”I directly asked his Holiness, Pope Francis, to move forward on apologizing, on asking for forgiveness, on restitution, on making these records available,” according to Trudeau.  

But the prime minister adds we’re still seeing resistance from the church, possibly here in Canada.

Trudeau says it’s going to be important for Catholics across the country to reach out to bishops and cardinals.

In what appears to be a thinly veiled threat, he adds he hopes the church gives in to public pressure before the government is forced to take the issue to court.