In a historic and emotional address, Pope Leo XIV issued a public apology for the Church’s past connections to slavery, calling the exploitation of human beings “a grave sin against God and human dignity.”

Speaking during a ceremony dedicated to remembrance and reconciliation, the Pope acknowledged that members of the Church throughout history were at times complicit in systems linked to slavery and colonial exploitation. He said such actions contradicted the core message of the Gospel and caused profound suffering to countless people and generations.

“With humility and sorrow, the Church asks forgiveness,” Pope Leo declared. “No person created in the image of God should ever have been treated as property, exploited, or stripped of dignity.” His remarks drew emotional reactions from religious leaders, historians, and descendants of enslaved communities around the world.

The Pontiff also warned that modern forms of slavery still exist today through human trafficking, forced labor, exploitation, and systemic injustice. He urged governments, insтιтutions, and faith communities to work together to defend human rights and protect vulnerable populations.

Observers described the apology as one of the most significant moral statements of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate so far, reinforcing his broader calls for truth, reconciliation, and solidarity across cultures and nations.