By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, May 27, GNA – The Government of Ghana has commended Pope Leo XIV for apologising over the historical role of the Holy See in legitimising and sustaining the transatlantic enslavement of Africans.
It described the gesture as a significant contribution to global reparatory justice efforts.
The Government said the apology represented an important moment in the international pursuit of historical truth, reconciliation, justice and human dignity, particularly at a time when the world was increasingly confronting the enduring consequences of slavery and colonialism.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the Pope’s remarks demonstrated moral courage and reinforced growing international calls for honest engagement with historical injustices.
“The Government of the Republic of Ghana warmly welcomes the historic statement by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV acknowledging and apologising for the role played by the Holy See in legitimising and sustaining the enslavement of Africans and the transatlantic slave trade,” a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency said.
It said the apology carried special significance because of the central role religious institutions played during the era of the transatlantic slave trade, when millions of Africans were forcibly removed from the continent under systems of racialised chattel enslavement.
The statement noted that for more than five centuries, Africans and people of African descent endured unimaginable suffering, exploitation and dehumanisation whose social, economic and psychological impacts continued to affect communities across the globe.
Confronting those painful historical realities remained necessary for healing, reconciliation and building a more just future, it said.
The statement also acknowledged Pope Leo XIV’s longstanding commitment to compassion, solidarity, social justice and the dignity of the human person, saying his apology reflected those values.
It observed that the Pope’s remarks came at a critical moment when the international community was deepening discussions on reparatory justice and historical accountability.
The statement referenced the recent adoption of the landmark United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/250, which declared the trafficking and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The Ghana-led resolution, adopted by 123 member states in March 2026, called for sustained international dialogue on justice, equality, remembrance and dignity for Africans and people of African descent.
The resolution represents one of the most significant international recognitions of slavery’s historical impact and has elevated global conversations on reparatory justice to a new level within multilateral institutions.
The Government said Pope Leo XIV’s apology further strengthened the momentum generated by the resolution and reflected a growing willingness among global institutions to confront historical truths.
“It reinforces the growing global understanding that confronting historical injustices demands truth-telling and moral responsibility as essential foundations for justice and reconciliation,” the statement noted.
The Ministry disclosed that discussions surrounding the historical role of the Church featured prominently during negotiations leading to the adoption of the UN resolution.
It said references to Papal Bulls and historical Church decrees associated with the transatlantic slave trade generated extensive debate among member states and stakeholders during the negotiations.
Against that backdrop, Ghana described the Pope’s apology as “particularly significant and refreshing,” noting that it reflected a willingness to confront difficult historical truths in the broader interest of justice and reconciliation.
As a country with deep historical links to the transatlantic slave trade, Ghana said it remained committed to collaborating with international partners, faith communities, civil society organisations and people of conscience worldwide to advance efforts towards historical justice and restoration of human dignity.
Ghana is home to several historic slave forts and castles that served as holding points for enslaved Africans before they were transported across the Atlantic.
Sites such as Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle have become internationally recognised symbols of remembrance and reflection on one of humanity’s darkest chapters.
Over the years, Ghana has increasingly positioned itself as a leading voice in the global reparatory justice movement through diplomatic initiatives, diaspora engagement and advocacy at international forums.
President John Dramani Mahama, who serves as African Union Champion on Reparatory Justice, has played a prominent role in mobilising continental support for reparations and historical acknowledgment.
Government announced that Ghana would host a High-Level Consultative Conference on Reparatory Justice in Accra from June 17 to 19, 2026, following the adoption of the UN resolution.
The conference is expected to bring together Heads of State, diplomats, scholars, faith leaders, civil society organisations and representatives of the African diaspora to deliberate on practical pathways for reparatory justice and sustained international engagement.
The Government said the conference would focus on advancing historical justice, remembrance, healing and human dignity while strengthening global cooperation on reparatory initiatives.
“It is also our hope and prayer that States which did not support the Resolution would, in the near future, align with its objectives and join Ghana and the broader international community in advancing its effective implementation,” the statement said.
President Mahama expressed appreciation to Pope Leo XIV for the “significant moral step towards truth, healing and reconciliation.”
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]