Pope acknowledges colonial-era abuses: After criticism for minimizing injustices
Facing strong criticism after saying in Brazil that Christianity was not forced upon the indigenous people of the Americas, Pope Benedict XVI has admitted to “shadows that accompanied the work of evangelization” in Latin America.
“It is impossible to forget the sufferings and injustices inflicted by colonizers on the indigenous peoples, who often had their basic human rights trampled on,” said Benedict during his weekly public audience May 23 at the Vatican.