Short Answer: The Popes and Slavery

Dear Apologist, Did the Popes approve of slavery during the colonial era?

The slave trade is one of the great stains on the history of Western civilization.  Catholic laymen and some members of the hierarchy were involved – we can admit that.  However, some people propose that the Church actually taught that slavery was acceptable.  More moderate critics will say the Church was silent.  Those accusations can be refuted.

In 1435, Pope Eugene IV learned that Catholics were taking slaves out of the Canary Islands.  He responded by issuing a letter called Sicut Dudum.  This letter condemned the taking of slaves as sinful and commanded their release, saying: "These people are to be totally and perpetually free, and are to be let go without the exaction money. If this is not done when the fifteen days have passed, [those involved] incur the sentence of excommunication, from which they cannot be absolved, except at the point of death."

In 1537, news of the enslavement of Native Americans reached Pope Paul III.  He responded with a letter called Sublimus  Dei, in which he declared that the enslavement of Native Americans was a work of the devil. He further said those who published defenses of slavery were “satellites of Satan” who pleased the Evil One by opposing the Gospel. He closes the letter by demanding their immediate release and the return of their belongings. 

Lastly, in 1839 Pope Gregory XVI wrote about the African slave trade in an encyclical called In Supremo Apostolatus.  His letter describes the history of Papal condemnations of slavery and concludes saying the practice of reducing people to slavery is forever banned to all those who call themselves Christians.  

Thus, it can be shown that the Popes have been consistently opposed to slavery.  The problem is that few listened.