The Doctrine of Discovery

The Romanus Pontifex of 1455, a Papal Bull (decree) issued by Pope Alexander VI, played a central role in the Spanish and Portuguese conquests of Africa and, eventually, the New World.

The decree invited Portugal to invade, capture and subdue all pagans, enemies of Christ wheresoever placed, reduce their persons to perpetual slavery, and convert them to the King’s use and profit.  

It was followed by other Papal Bulls that served to justify the Spanish, Portuguese, British and French colonial invasions, of the Western Hemisphere, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, the confiscation of all “discovered” territories by the settler powers and the enslavement of their indigenous populations.

This collection of Papal Bulls that came to be known as the “Doctrine of Discovery” was rescinded by the Vatican on March 30th.

Phil Fontaine, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Canada, told The Associated press that “The Church has done one thing, as it said it would do, for the Holy Father. Now the ball is in the court of governments, the U.S. and Canada…”.

Felix Hoehn, administrative and property law professor at the University of Saskatchewan, told The Associated Press that “the most that any repudiation of the doctrine can do in relation to Canadian law is to apply pressure on the Supreme Court of Canada to renounce the doctrine as part of Canadian law”. The same would apply to the United States, where the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Doctrine in 1823 and codified it into U.S. law.

There are a number of interesting aspects to this decision.

Pope Francis, the first Pontiff from the developing world, issued this ruling as part of his response to the decade’s long protests by indigenous groups globally. His Papacy has been at the forefront of promoting the liberalization of the Church and an acceptance by the Church of errors that past Popes have committed. This will likely find strong objection in the more conservative elements of the Curia who reject any thought that the infallibility of Popes is acceptable.

In addition, it was issued on the day that Pope Francis, in poor health, was hospitalized for a respiratory infection. Since he only has one lung and serious health problems, this may be one of his last acts before he passes or retires. Although he has stacked the College of Cardinals with his supporters, he may have wanted to issue this fait accompli should the conservative wing of the College prevail in the next conclave.

Furthermore, Pope Francis visited Canada last summer to apologize to indigenous groups for the Church’s role in trying to destroy their culture through the so-called residential schools that removed indigenous children from their families and communities to learn the ways of the settler population. These schools existed from 1865 until 1995 and were responsible for the deaths of thousands of children and the victimization of tens of thousands more.

This move may well have strong repercussions in Latin America, where a number of governments have demanded such a move from the Church for years. As governments in the hemisphere deal with demands from Indigenous communities for reparations, they may try to foist these claims on the Vatican since the Church appears now to have taken responsibility.

This action on the part of Pope Francis will undoubtedly cement his reputation as a reformer and allow the Church to re-capture a position of moral leadership globally. 

Making the Church fit for purpose for the 21st century as well as to align it with the teachings of Christ must continue if the Church is to stop bleeding adherents to evangelical churches in Latin America and Africa. 

Much remains to be done.

But Pope Francis has taken a concrete step in this direction.

It is now to his followers to maintain the momentum during his and the next papacy to ensure that there is no backtracking and that the Church stays the course.  

[email protected]

Keep reading: Iraq

Edición: Laura Espejo