POPE Francis visited inmates at Bolivia’s Palmasola prison yesterday after apologising for his church’s “crimes” against indigenous people on Thursday.

Speaking at the second Social World Meeting of Social and People’s Movements, he said: “I humbly ask forgiveness, not only for the offences of the church herself but also for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.”

He continued: “I also want us to remember the thousands and thousands of priests who strongly opposed the logic of the sword with the power of the cross.

“There was sin, and it was plentiful. But we never apologised, so I now ask for forgiveness,” he said to wild applause.

“We accept the apologies. What more can we expect from a man like Pope Francis?” said lowlands indigenous leader Adolfo Chavez. “It’s time to turn the page and start anew. We indigenous were never lesser beings.”