Pope Leo XIV Apologises For Vatican’s Historical Role In Slavery
In a rare and deeply symbolic admission, Pope Leo XIV has asked for forgiveness over the Catholic Church’s historical involvement in justifying slavery, describing the delay in condemning the practice as a painful stain on Christian history.
In a document titled Magnifica Humanitas, released on May 25, 2026, the pontiff acknowledged that Church institutions once owned slaves and that the Vatican, during the early modern era, issued decrees that regulated and in some cases legitimised the enslavement of non-Christians.
The pope admitted that while historical actions should not be judged entirely by modern moral standards, the Church could not ignore its prolonged silence on slavery.
“This remains a wound in Christian memory, and we cannot claim to be separate from it,” Leo stated, before offering a direct apology on behalf of the Church.
“For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon,” he said.
The statement is being viewed as one of the strongest acknowledgements yet by a sitting pope regarding the Vatican’s direct role in authorising forms of enslavement.
While previous popes, including Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis, had condemned slavery and apologised for the role of Christians in the transatlantic slave trade, Leo XIV’s remarks go further by openly recognising institutional complicity within the Church itself.
The declaration has already sparked global conversations around historical accountability, justice, and the role of faith institutions in confronting painful chapters of the past.
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp: whatsapp.com