Pope Leo XIV's African Odyssey: A Call for Justice and Reflection on the Slave Trade

Pope Leo XIV embarked on a significant journey to Angola, urging Angolans to combat corruption with justice and reflecting on the church's historical role in the slave trade. The visit included a Mass in Kilamba and a tribute to the Muxima shrine, challenging the Vatican to reconsider its past actions.

Pope Leo XIV called on Angolans to fight corruption by embracing justice during his visit, which highlighted the region's historical scars from the slave trade. Speaking to a crowd of 100,000 in Kilamba, he acknowledged the deep divisions caused by colonial exploitation and called for unity and healing.

The pontiff's pilgrimage included a poignant visit to the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, a shrine with a troubling past linked to the slave trade. The site was once a hub where enslaved Africans were baptized before being shipped to the Americas. Leo's journey urges the Vatican to address its historical involvement in slavery.

The visit resonates personally with the Pope, who shares a lineage connected to enslaved and slave-owning ancestors. Scholars urge caution in defining his identity, as they respect his undisclosed reflections on his ancestry. The journey opens dialogues about the church's past and points to potential reconciliation.

(With inputs from agencies.)