Pope Francis issued an apology on behalf of the Catholic Church for its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade during a visit to Ghana on Wednesday. Speaking at the Cape Coast Castle, a former slave-trading post, the Pontiff described the Church's past complicity as a 'profound sin' and called for reconciliation. Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo welcomed the apology, stating it marked a 'watershed moment' for Africa.
The visit also saw the signing of a new UK-Ghana partnership agreement, aimed at bolstering trade and security cooperation within the Commonwealth. Vatican sources confirmed the apology was a direct response to calls from African bishops and represents a significant shift in Church policy. The event was attended by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who emphasised the deepening of bilateral ties.
Analysts view the apology as a strategic move to restore the Church's moral authority in the Global South and reinforce soft power in former colonial territories.
