Pope Leo XIV has apologized for the Catholic Church’s historical involvement in slavery, admitting that parts of the Church helped justify and benefit from one of history’s darkest systems of oppression.
Speaking during a gathering addressing social justice and historical reconciliation, the Pope acknowledged that Catholic institutions and some church leaders were deeply connected to the transatlantic slave trade for centuries. He said the Church cannot ignore the suffering caused by slavery or remain silent about its role in it.
The apology centers on how sections of the Church during the colonial era supported European empires that captured, sold and exploited millions of Africans. Some clergy defended slavery using religion, while certain Catholic missions and institutions reportedly owned enslaved people or profited from slave labor.
Historians say the Church’s involvement varied across countries and periods, but critics have long argued that the institution failed to strongly oppose slavery when millions were being trafficked across Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The Pope described slavery as “a grave sin and a stain on humanity,” adding that true reconciliation requires acknowledging historical wrongs instead of trying to erase or minimize them.
The statement has reignited debates about whether the Vatican and Western institutions should go beyond apologies and discuss reparations, historical accountability and the lasting economic effects of slavery on African and Caribbean societies.