Pope Leo XIV Issues Historic Apology for Vatican's Role in Legitimizing Slavery

In a landmark moment for the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has issued a historic apology for the Holy See's centuries-long role in legitimizing slavery. He described the Vatican's past actions as a "wound in Christian memory" in his first encyclical, titled "Magnifica Humanitas" (Magnificent Humanity).

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It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord.

While previous pontiffs have apologized for Christians' involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Leo XIV is the first pope to publicly acknowledge and apologize for the Vatican's own historical role in granting European rulers the authority to enslave non-Christians. The encyclical, released Monday, addresses the deep sorrow felt when contemplating the immense suffering endured by enslaved people, stating, "For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon."

Pope Leo XIV, whose family history includes both enslaved individuals and slave owners, drew parallels between historical slavery and contemporary forms of exploitation. He specifically mentioned new forms of colonialism fueled by the digital revolution, such as the unregulated labor required to obtain rare minerals for AI chips. This move responds to decades of calls from Black American Catholics, activists, and scholars for the Holy See to atone for its past.

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For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon.

The apology confronts historical documents, including the 1452 papal bull "Dum Diversas" issued by Pope Nicholas V. This directive granted Portuguese sovereigns the right to conquer, subjugate, and enslave non-Christians, forming a basis for the Doctrine of Discovery that legitimized colonial land seizures. The encyclical also acknowledges Pope Leo XIII's 1888 condemnation of slavery, noting that even church institutions held slaves in antiquity and the Middle Ages.

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Already in the early modern period, the Apostolic See of Rome, responding to the requests of sovereigns, intervened several times in order...