Pope Leo XIV Apologizes for Church's Role in Slavery

Pope Leo XIV just dropped a historic encyclical—his first—officially apologizing for the Church’s role in legitimizing slavery, calling it a “wound in Christian memory.” He’s acknowledging centuries of papal support for colonial conquests and enslavement of non-Christians, rooted in the Doctrine of Discovery. This apology responds to decades of pressure from Black Catholics and scholars, and he’s linking it to modern human trafficking, warning against repeating history. Though the Vatican rejected the Doctrine of Discovery last year, these old bulls remain unrevoked. Pope Leo XIV’s own family history—both enslaved and enslavers—adds personal weight to his call for justice, dignity, and accountability. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b91832ae5af5be5e