Ghana welcomes Pope's apology over Catholic Church's role in slavery

Ghana has welcomed Pope Leo XIV's apology for the Catholic Church's historical relation successful slavery, describing it arsenic an "act of motivation courage" that was important successful the planetary pursuit of "truth, quality dignity and justice".

The Pope issued the clearest apology yet for the Church's engagement successful legitimising slavery and its hold successful condemning it for centuries.

Ghana was a large hub for the transatlantic enslaved commercialized erstwhile millions of radical were captured and loaded connected to ships, ne'er to instrumentality home.

Between the 16th and 19th Centuries, 12-15 cardinal Africans were shipped to the Caribbean, with astir 2 cardinal dying during the journey.

Ghana has agelong been a starring efforts for compensation and apologies from Western nations for the enslaved trade.

The West African nation's authorities said the Pope's designation of the achy past was an important measurement towards healing, reconciliation and a conscionable society.

''[The apology] reinforces the increasing planetary knowing that confronting humanities injustices demands truth-telling and motivation work arsenic indispensable foundations for justness and reconciliation,'' its statement, released precocious connected Tuesday, said.

The Pope's apology was delivered successful what is known arsenic a encyclical - technically a missive to Catholic bishops, but which implicit caller decades person been however a pontiff passes connected messages to the world.

In the papal missive - titled "Magnifica Humanitas" ("Magnificent Humanity") - Pope Leo sincerely asked for pardon successful the sanction of the Church, adding that it was "impossible not to consciousness heavy sorrow erstwhile contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by truthful many".

Leo said Church authorities had astatine times responded to requests of rulers by "regulating and legitimising forms of subjugation, including the enslavement of of [non-Christians]".

He besides acknowledged that earlier successful the Middle Ages, ecclesiastical institutions had their ain slaves.

"This constitutes a coiled successful Christian memory," helium said of the Church's record.

Ghana said the Pope's acknowledgment of the "painful history" was significant, astatine a clip the satellite was having a "deeper reflection" connected the effects of slavery and colonialism.

The state successfully pushed for a UN solution successful March, which recognised the enslavement of Africans arsenic the "gravest transgression against humanity".

Submitted by Ghana's President John Mahama and backed by the African Union, it aims to supply a pathway to healing and the outgo of reparations.

It besides seeks to code the enduring consequences of slavery similar inequality and radical discrimination.

Ghana, which inactive has immoderate of the forts that were utilized for holding captives nether inhuman conditions arsenic they waited to beryllium shipped to the Americas by European powers, is owed to big a league successful June to sermon the adjacent steps pursuing the adoption of the UN resolution.

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