Pope Leo XIV laments the "suffering and humiliation" of enslaved Africans in Peru.
The Pope said these things during a visit to Zana, a historic city recognized by UNESCO as a monument to slavery and the center of the Afro-Peruvian community.
Key details:
Personal connection: Pope, who was born in the US as Robert Prevost, had both enslaved people and slave owners in his family tree. Local Afro-Peruvians reportedly say that his African ancestry is a source of great pride.
Historical context: Zania preserves the memory of generations of Africans who were forcibly taken from their homes, he stressed. An estimated 100,000 were brought to Peru, with descendants facing systemic struggles for over 170 years since emancipation.
Ongoing Discrimination: Leo expressed dismay at the discrimination Afro-Peruvians still face, stating that they remain in his prayers. He also noted his long history with the region, often visiting the shrine of Saint Toribius of Mogrovejo—a 16th-century archbishop known for denouncing colonial abuses.
Video from social media.
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