New Delhi, May 25 -- Pope Leo XIV on Monday (May 25) issued one of the strongest acknowledgements ever made by a pope regarding the Catholic Church's historical role in slavery, apologising for centuries of delay in condemning the practice and admitting that Church authorities helped legitimise forms of enslavement.

In his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas ("Magnificent Humanity"), Pope Leo described slavery as "a wound in Christian memory" and formally asked forgiveness on behalf of the Church.

"For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon," Pope Leo wrote.

The apology was included in a broader document focused primarily on the ethical dangers of artificial intelligence, war and economic exploitation.

Pope Leo ...