Pope Leo has issued the strongest apology yet from a Catholic pontiff over the Church’s historic involvement in slavery, admitting that the institution was slow to condemn the practice and at times helped legitimise it.
In his first papal encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, the pope described slavery as “a wound in Christian memory” and acknowledged that Church authorities once regulated forms of subjugation, including the enslavement of non-Christians. He also admitted that some ecclesiastical institutions owned slaves during the Middle Ages.
“For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon,” Leo wrote, expressing deep sorrow for the suffering endured by enslaved people.
The pope said the Catholic Church only arrived at a complete and universal rejection of slavery in the 19th century under Pope Leo XIII, following centuries of inconsistent teachings and practices.
His statement goes further than previous papal remarks by directly recognising institutional responsibility rather than focusing solely on individual Christians involved in the slave trade.
During a 1985 visit to Africa, Pope John Paul II sought forgiveness for the suffering caused by Christians engaged in slavery, while Pope Francis later condemned modern slavery and rejected colonial-era papal decrees used to justify enslavement.
The apology appeared in Magnifica Humanitas, which also explores the ethical dangers of artificial intelligence and warns against emerging forms of economic exploitation.
Recent genealogical findings published after Pope Leo’s election revealed that the first US-born pope has ancestral ties to both enslaved people and slaveholders.
A story of courage, wonder, and the transformative power of self-belief; perfect for readers aged 10+ who love adventure. To place order: +234 806 130 3237 | +234 803 582 0870 OR Tap the link to grab a copy:https://www.zeekapublish.com/product/the-magical-life-of-anna
