First Nations delegates left a two-hour meeting at the Vatican Thursday saying they believe Pope Francis will soon apologize for the Roman Catholic Church's role in the residential school system, CBC Canada reports.

The 14 delegates from the Assembly of First Nations met privately with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace.

While Pope Francis didn't state clearly he would be issuing an apology, the words he used left delegates with a strong belief it will happen, said former Assembly of First Nations national chief Phil Fontaine.

The delegates also urged the Pope to release all residential school records held by his church and revoke centuries-old papal decrees used to justify the seizure of Indigenous land in the Americas by colonial powers.