Pope Leo XIV urges Angolans to combat corruption with justice
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV urged Angolans to combat corruption and build a culture of justice during a Mass attended by around 100,000 people near Luanda, Angola.
- The pope's visit included a stop at the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, a Catholic shrine historically tied to the African slave trade, highlighting the Church's complex legacy in slavery and colonization.
- Historical papal bulls authorized Portuguese colonization and enslavement in Africa, but the Vatican has not fully acknowledged or apologized for the Church's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
- Genealogical research reveals Pope Leo XIV has Black ancestors, including enslaved people and slave owners, a fact discussed privately with the pope but not publicly addressed by him.
- The visit is seen by some Black Catholic scholars as a moment of healing, while calls persist for the Vatican to more openly confront and atone for its historical involvement in slavery.
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