Ghana has welcomed an apology from Pope Leo XIV regarding the Catholic Church’s historic role in slavery, describing the statement as an act of moral courage and a vital step in the global pursuit of truth, justice, and human dignity.

The Pope issued what is being regarded as the clearest apology to date for the Church’s involvement in legitimising slavery and for its failure to condemn the practice over several centuries. The acknowledgement was published on Monday within the first major teaching document of his papacy, which also addressed the contemporary risks posed by artificial intelligence.

Ghana, which has long been at the forefront of campaigning for formal apologies and reparations from Western nations over the transatlantic slave trade, stated that the Vatican’s acknowledgement is highly significant in advancing historical accountability and reconciliation.

–ChannelAfrica–