Pope Leo XIV makes historic apology for Holy See's own role in legitimising slavery
Pope Leo XIV issued a historic apology for the Holy See's role in legitimising slavery, acknowledging the Vatican's failure to condemn it for centuries. In his first encyclical, he addressed the suffering caused by slavery and linked it to modern forms of exploitation fueled by technology. This apology responds to long-standing calls from Black American Catholics and activists for the Church to atone for its past actions.
- ▪Pope Leo XIV apologized for the Vatican's historical role in legitimising slavery in his encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas.'
- ▪He acknowledged the immense suffering caused by slavery and the Church's delayed condemnation of it.
- ▪The apology is part of a broader discussion on modern forms of slavery related to technology and artificial intelligence.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Pope Leo XIV made a historic apology on Monday (May 25, 2026) for the role the Holy See itself played in legitimising slavery and for having failed to condemn it for centuries, calling the Vatican's record a “wound in Christian memory.”Past Popes have apologised for Christians' involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. But no Pope has ever publicly acknowledged, much less apologised for, the role that past popes themselves played in giving European sovereigns explicit authority to subjugate and enslave “infidels.”History's first U.S.-born Pope, whose family history includes both enslaved people and slave owners, delivered the apology in his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (Magnificent Humanity), which was released Monday (May 25).The sweeping manifesto is about safeguarding…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Hindu — Top
