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Pope Leo XIV issues historic apology over Vatican's role in legitimizing slavery

Pope Leo XIV issues historic apology over Vatican's role in legitimizing slavery

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Pope Leo XIV made history on Monday by publicly apologizing for the Holy See’s role in legitimizing slavery, the first such apology by any pope.

Leo XIV
Catholic Church
1. This constitutes a wound in Christian memory, one from which we cannot consider ourselves detached.
2. Yet neither can we deny or diminish the delay with which both society and the church came to denounce the scourge of slavery.
3. Already in the early modern period, the Apostolic See of Rome, responding to the requests of sovereigns, intervened several times in order to regulate and legitimize forms of subjugation, and, in certain cases, including the enslavement of 'infidels.'
4. For this, in the name of the church, I sincerely ask for pardon.
5. 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.
Christopher J Kellerman
Jesuits
1. Hopefully a future document will explain in more detail the church's involvement with slaveholding. As a scholar I have some quibbles with the wording, but this is a truly remarkable moment.
2. Pope Leo has strengthened the moral credibility of the church with this admission and apology today.
Anthea Butler
Koch Center
1. For descendants of enslaved persons, this is once again a much-needed apology from the pope.

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