Archbishop Caccia delivers Statement, at the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, under the theme: “Justice in Action: Confronting History, Advancing Dignity, Empowering Futures”

By H. E. Archbishop Gabriele CacciaApostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations

New York, 25 March 2026

Madam President,

On this International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the Holy See Delegation joins others in honoring the memory of the millions of people who were victims of enslavement.

The Holy See unequivocally condemns slavery, including in its modern forms. The call for remembrance today is a reminder to all States of their duty to uphold historical truth and ensure legal accountability.

As Pope Leo XIV stated, “since apostolic times, the Church has seen the liberation of the oppressed as a sign of the Kingdom of God. […] This mission of liberation has continued throughout the centuries through concrete actions, especially when the tragedy of slavery and imprisonment has marked entire societies.”[1]

These convictions have been expressed in numerous Papal documents. For example, as early as 1435, Pope Eugene IV condemned the enslavement of the inhabitants of the Canary Islands and excommunicated those who refused to free them.[2] More recently, in 1888, Pope Leo XIII condemned slavery as contrary to the Christian values recalling that, according to St. Augustine, “having created man a reasonable being, and after His own likeness, God wished that he should rule only over the brute creation; that he should be the master, not of men”.[3]

Madam President,

Unfortunately, the draft declaration under consideration contains a partial narrative, which, regrettably, does not serve the cause of truth. Historical memory, when based on accurate and impartial historical information, together with education and awareness-raising, plays a fundamental role in preventing the recurrence of such grave scourges of humanity.

At the same time, it is important to reaffirm that, under international law, modern slavery constitutes a crime against humanity, when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population.[4] Therefore, the Holy See reaffirms that no one should be held in slavery or servitude, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Madam President,

Allow me to conclude with the words of Pope Leo XIV, who reminded us that the freedom that Christ gave us “is not only interior: it manifests itself in history as love that cares for and frees us from every bond of slavery.”[5]

I thank you.

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[1] Pope Leo XIV, Apostolic Exhortation Dilexit te, 2025, n. 59.

[2] Cf. Pope Eugene IV, Apostolic letter Sicut Dudum against the Enslaving of Natives from the Canary Islands, 13 January 1435.

[3] Saint Augustine, De Civitate Dei, 19, 15, in: Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical letter In Plurimis, on the Abolition of Slavery, 5 May 1888, § 3.

[4] Cfr. International Criminal Court, Statute, art. 7.1.

[5] Pope Leo XIV, Apostolic Exhortation Dilexit te, 2025, n. 62.