Pope Leo XIV apologizes for Holy See's role in legitimizing slavery

Pope Leo XIV issued a historic apology for the Vatican's role in legitimizing slavery, acknowledging it as a "wound in Christian memory." His apology came during the release of his encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," which emphasizes the importance of safeguarding humanity amid modern challenges, including those posed by artificial intelligence.

No previous pope had acknowledged the Holy See’s explicit role in empowering slavery through papal bulls. Leo highlighted the long delay in the Church's condemnation of slavery, stating, “It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering.”

He called for a firm condemnation of current forms of trafficking and urged respect for human dignity.