Pope Leo has issued a historic apology for the role the Holy See played in legitimising slavery during the colonial era, describing the Vatican’s past actions as “a wound in Christian memory.”
The apology was contained in his first encyclical titled Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”), released on Monday.
The document mainly focused on the dangers of unregulated artificial intelligence and the need to protect human dignity in the digital age, but it also addressed the Catholic Church’s historical connection to slavery and colonialism.
Leo acknowledged that past popes authorised European rulers to conquer and enslave non-Christians during the 15th century.
“For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon,” the pope wrote.
According to historians, papal decrees issued by the Vatican during the colonial era granted Portuguese and Spanish monarchs authority to seize lands, subjugate populations and enslave so-called “infidels” in Africa and the Americas.
One of the most controversial decrees was the 1452 papal bull Dum Diversas, issued by Pope Nicholas V, which authorised the Portuguese crown to conquer and enslave non-Christians permanently.
The decrees later became part of what became known as the “Doctrine of Discovery,” a legal and religious framework used to justify European colonial expansion.
Although the Vatican formally repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery in 2023, it had never before publicly apologised for the direct role previous popes played in legitimising slavery.
Leo admitted that the Church was slow in openly condemning slavery, noting that it took centuries before its incompatibility with Christian teachings was fully recognised.
He said the Church today must avoid repeating similar mistakes in the modern era, especially regarding new forms of exploitation linked to technology and artificial intelligence.
The pope warned that the digital revolution could create “new forms of slavery,” including the exploitation of workers involved in mining rare minerals needed for AI technologies.
Leo referenced his predecessor Pope Leo XIII, who formally condemned slavery in 1888, long after many nations had already abolished the practice.
The apology has been viewed as a major moment in the Catholic Church’s reckoning with its historical role in colonialism and the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The pope’s remarks also carry personal significance. Genealogical research shows the family history of the first American-born pope includes both enslaved people and slave owners.
In recent decades, former popes including Pope John Paul II apologised for Christians’ involvement in the slave trade, but none had directly acknowledged the role played by the papacy itself
