Pope Leo XIV apologized for the involvement of the Holy See in the legitimization of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.

On Monday, Pope Leo XIV presented historical apologies for the role played by the Holy See in legitimizing slavery, calling this activity a "wound in Christian memory." Although former popes have apologized for the involvement of Christians in the transatlantic slave trade, this is the first pope to publicly acknowledge the Church's responsibility in granting authority to European sovereigns to subjugate "infidels."

In his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," Leo addressed not only historical slavery but also new forms of slavery generated by the digital revolution, such as unregulated labor for the rare minerals needed for AI chips. These apologies come in response to decades of calls from African American activists and researchers who have urged the Holy See to recognize its role in the trade of human beings. The Pope expressed deep sorrow for the suffering endured by the victims of slavery and asked for forgiveness on behalf of the Church.