The Canadian government has halted an inquiry into claims of mass burials of children at former Church-run residential schools – after not one grave was discovered.

Claims of the abuse and murders of hundreds indigenous children have triggered arson attacks, vandalism and the desecration of about 120 churches across Canadaamid an outpouring of national grief.

The hysteria even reached the Vatican with Pope Francis using an Angelus address to lament “the shocking discovery of the remains of 215 children”.