“All he has to say is, ‘I am sorry.’” What to expect as an Indigenous delegation meets the Pope.

Plus, affordable child care in Ontario and the slap heard around the world [The Star] First Up [By Lex Harvey] By Lex Harvey Good morning. Here’s the latest on an Indigenous delegation’s trip to the Vatican, a much-awaited child-care deal and a big win for Canadian men’s soccer.  DON’T MISS Vincenzo Pinto/AFP via Getty images reconciliation [Why this week’s meeting with the Pope is the next step in one chief’s “healing journey”]( An Indigenous delegation has touched down in Rome for an audience with Pope Francis, during which residential school survivors will share their stories and push for accountability from the Catholic Church. For Chief Willie Littlechild, one of three commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, [the meeting is a full circle moment]( As a young boy in a residential school, deprived of his culture and language, he once sketched a drawing of Pope Pius XII to submit for an arts scholarship. Six decades later, to stand proudly before the leader of the church and call for an apology for the abuse he and so many others endured is a “dream,” he told Omar Mosleh and Nicholas Keung. [Here’s what to expect from this week’s historic visit](. - Why it matters: For the Pope to come to Canada and apologize was one of the main calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation report — and it’s something Littlechild has heard over and over again. “Many, many of the survivors, either through tears or anger or disappointment, said to us ‘all I want is for the Pope to apologize to me,” Littlechild said. - Context: The Pope is one of the last major leaders of an organization instrumental in the abusive system who has yet to say sorry. Nearly three-quarters of Canada’s 130 residential schools were run by Roman Catholic missionary congregations. - Go deeper: This Métis leader says [her people’s story of residential schools “has yet to be told.”]( - Another angle: This Canadian cleric has been a “bridge” between the Vatican and Indigenous people. And he, too, [wants to hear an apology from Pope Francis](. Canadian Press/Justin Tang child care [Trudeau and Ford will ink a child care deal today]( The prime minister and Ontario premier will sign an accord in the GTA today after [promises of a new infrastructure program]( finally brought Canada’s largest province on board with Ottawa’s national child care program. The five-year, $10.2 billion arrangement will slash child care fees in half by the end of December, with plans to get down to $10-a-day in year four. Robert Benzie and Tonda MacCharles have [the latest from Queen’s Park and Ottawa](. - Miss something? As the Star reported last week, Ottawa was looking to spend hundreds of millions more to create child-care spaces to secure Ontario’s signature on the national program —[funds those close to Ford called a “game changer.”]( - Why it matters: Ontario was the last province or territory to sign onto the national child care program — a defining policy for Trudeau. The provincial Tories, under pressure from opposition parties, were eager to strike a deal ahead of June’s Ontario election. Canadian Press/Nathan Denette soccer [Canada is going to the World Cup!]( The Canadian men’s team is Qatar-bound after handily beating Jamaica 4-0 at BMO Field yesterday, earning the team a spot at soccer’s top competition for the first time in 36 years. But, as Laura Armstrong reports, Sunday’s win was ultimately a sidebar to a bigger moment for the sport in this country. Canada — which also celebrated women’s soccer gold at the Tokyo Olympics — has evolved into a “legit football country,” as coach John Herdman put it. [Here are some of the game highlights](. - Context: Canada missed its first chance to clinch a World Cup spot in Costa Rica Thursday — but the loss set the Canadians up for a historic win at home. Nearly 30,000 fans packed BMO field, the largest attendance for a Canadian men’s match. - Joe Callaghan’s take: Canada’s soccer prayers have been answered. [Now the fun begins](. WHAT ELSE Ukrainian’s president [accused the West of cowardice Sunday]( while a top official said Russia was trying to split the nation. The Nova Scotia mass shooting inquiry resumes today. Here’s what’s been revealed so far — [and what’s expected this week](. Tired of waiting for a COVID vaccine for their toddlers, these parents [brought them to a clinical trial in Etobicoke](. From despair to hope: After COVID’s toll on mental health, more Canadians may [soon be able to access care](. Here’s how the Liberal-NDP pact [removes an obstacle to Indigenous reconciliation](. The province has [officially broken ground]( for the Ontario Line subway system. POV Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick [The Liberal-NDP pact comes with one big catch for Justin Trudeau.]( CLOSE-UP Chris Pizzello/AP DOLBY THEATRE, LOS ANGELES: Things got heated at the Oscars Sunday when Will Smith, right, slapped presenter Chris Rock on stage after Rock made a joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Star movie critic Peter Howell has a [rundown of last night’s winners and losers]( — and how the crowd reacted to the shocking assault. Thanks for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_114735). 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