According to the statement, the Ghanaian government said the Pope's recognition of the past was a vital step toward healing.

The apology, the Ghanaian government added, the growing global understanding that confronting historical injustices demands truth-telling and moral responsibility as essential foundations for justice and reconciliation.

The pope’s remarks were delivered on Monday in his first major encyclical, titled Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity).

In the papal letter, Pope Leo asked for a pardon in the name of the Church, writing that it is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many.

The Pope acknowledged that historical Church authorities had previously cooperated with rulers by regulating and legitimizing forms of subjugation, including the enslavement of [non-Christians]. He noted that medieval ecclesiastical institutions once held their own slaves.

"This constitutes a wound in Christian memory," Pope Leo wrote of the Church’s record.

For Ghana, the Pope's words carry historical weight. Between the 16^th and 19^th centuries, the West African nation was a primary hub for the transatlantic slave trade, where millions of captured Africans were held in brutal coastal forts before being shipped to the Americas.

Today, Ghana is leading the global diplomatic push for historical accountability. In March, the United Nations adopted a resolution sponsored by Ghanaian President John Mahama. They are backed by the African Union, officially recognizing the enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.

To build on this momentum, Ghana—which still preserves several of the coastal forts where captives were held under inhuman conditions—is scheduled to host an international conference in June to discuss the implementation of the UN resolution and the next steps for reparative justice.