Pope Leo XIV Apologizes for Catholic Church's Historical Legitimization of Slavery

Pope Leo XIV issued an apology on May 25, 2026, for the Catholic Church's historical legitimization of slavery, describing the delay in denouncing the practice as a "wound in Christian memory." In his first encyclical, titled "Magnifica Humanitas," the pope addressed the rise of artificial intelligence and its implications for human dignity. He highlighted the often unseen labor involved in the digital economy and the harsh conditions faced by workers, including children, in resource extraction. The pope warned that human traffickers could exploit AI, leading to new forms of subordination. He noted that slavery was tolerated for centuries before being condemned, expressing sorrow for the suffering endured by many and asking for pardon on behalf of the Church.