Dear incoming pope,

As the former head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis was a different kind of leader. Between his willingness to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and issuance of the climate encyclical Laudato Si’, he demonstrated an understanding that the Church has the dual responsibilities of reckoning with the past and planning for a livable future. I respectfully request that you, as the new leader of the Catholic Church, build on Pope Francis' legacy by directing your flock to respect Indigenous cultures and return colonized lands to Indigenous hands.

Indigenous Peoples the world over have suffered through a slow genocide, as lands they held sacred and respectfully stewarded for centuries were overrun by conquerors and colonizers who felt empowered and validated by the Doctrine of Discovery. In North America, that genocide was further perpetuated by the Church, which for decades oversaw private boarding and residential schools where Indigenous children stolen from their families suffered through painful assimilation practices, stripping them of their families and cultures — and often, their lives.

Under Pope Francis' leadership, the Catholic Church acknowledged that genocide and the importance of preserving the natural world. It began to right some of these wrongs. While the generational trauma suffered by Indigenous People can not be undone through any single action, a process of reconciliation which includes the return of lands to Indigenous stewardship would help remediate the climate crisis, restore public trust in the Catholic Church, and begin to heal Indigenous families and communities.

I ask you, as the new pontiff, to help Indigenous People preserve their cultural heritage and gain stewardship over sacred lands under Church jurisdiction. Please direct those who follow your leadership to respect the spiritual importance of preserving the Earth and give land back to Indigenous People. Specifically: Church properties on Native or First Nations reservations should be turned over to the people who live there; Church lands proximate to such tribal nations should be given to the nearest tribal government; and any Church holdings which could benefit a nearby Indigenous population should be made available to them.

Please use your newfound authority wisely. Bless Indigenous populations by acknowledging their spiritual beliefs and by providing real gifts of land. You can both protect the environment and benefit vulnerable peoples who consistently demonstrate a harmonious, spiritually-driven relationship with the Earth.