Callistus III - You are authorized to reduce to servitude all infid

You are authorized to reduce to servitude all infidel people.

Context

The Catholic Papacy was very ambivalent regarding the morality of slavery. Callistus, in effect authorized the morality of enslaving “infidels.” In the past this was a reaction to the Muslim ethic of banning slavery of Muslims but allowing it for “infidels.” This bull has been used to defend slavery ever since despite the fact that there are several other (before and after) Papal pronouncements condemning slavery. See {617550} , {617880} , {617632}

Topics

Citations

Callistus III, 1378-1458, Roman Catholic Pope, Papal Bull, 1455, 1458

Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations

Linked Quotes

Eugene IV

We order and command all and each of the faithful of each sex that, within the space of fifteen days of the publication of these letters in the place where they live, that they restore to their pristine liberty all and each person of either sex who were once residents of said Canary Islands ... who have been made subject to slavery (servituti subicere). These people are to be totally and perpetually free and are to be let go without the exaction or reception of any money

In this case, the Pope was obeyed on the issue of slavery. However, Papal injunctions against slavery have not always had the desired effect. See {617632}

Gregory XVI

We, by apostolic authority, warn and strongly exhort in the Lord faithful Christians of every condition that no one in the future dare bother unjustly, despoil of their possessions, or reduce to slavery Indians, Blacks or other such peoples….There were to be found subsequently among the faithful some who, shamefully blinded by the desire of sordid gain, in lonely and distant countries did not hesitate to reduce to slavery (in servitutem redigere) Indians, Blacks and other unfortunate peoples, or else, by instituting or expanding the trade in those who had been made slaves by others, aided the crime of others. Certainly many Roman Pontiffs of glorious memory, Our Predecessors, did not fail, according to the duties of their office, to blame severely this way of acting as dangerous for the spiritual welfare of those who did such things and a shame to the Christian name …. We prohibit and strictly forbid any Ecclesiastic or lay person from presuming to defend as permissible this trade in Blacks under no matter what pretext or excuse, or from publishing or teaching in any manner whatsoever, in public or privately, opinions contrary to what We have set forth

One might think that this remarkable pronouncement would have put an end to Catholic participation and support of slavery. However, in an exercise of theological hair splitting, the Southern Catholic Bishops of the United States took the position that In Supremo outlawed Catholic participation and support of slave trading but not the institution of slavery itself. See {617544} for their official position to the United States Government.

Paul III

Seeing this and envying it, the enemy of the human race, who always opposes all good men so that the race may perish, has thought up a way, unheard of before now, by which he might impede the saving word of God from being preached to the nations. He has stirred up some of his allies who, desiring to satisfy their own avarice, are presuming to assert far and wide that the Indians of the West and the South who have come to our notice in these times be reduced to our service like brute animals, under the pretext that they are lacking the Catholic Faith. And they reduce them to slavery (Et eos in servitutem redigunt), treating them with afflictions they would scarcely use with brute animals….Therefore, We, ... noting that the Indians themselves indeed are true men and are not only capable of the Christian faith, but, as has been made known to us, promptly hasten to the faith, and wishing to provide suitable remedies for them, by our Apostolic Authority decree and declare by these present letters that the same Indians and all other peoples-even though they are outside the faith-who shall hereafter come to the knowledge of Christians have not been deprived or should not be deprived of their liberty or of their possessions

The “enemy of the human race” is the Devil, Note that the Pope labels as “allies” of the Devil those who advocate and participate in slavery. Slavery was not only immoral, but the Devil was behind it all. The fact that slavery persisted on a massive scale by Catholic countries illustrates that while the Pope was a powerful leaders and figure, even he could not influence all the “sinners.”

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About the Author

Callistus III

Born: December 31, 1378
Died: August 6, 1458
Nationality:
Profession:

Biography

Pope Callixtus III, born Alfonso de Borgia (Valencian: Alfons de Borja), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 April 1455 to his death. Borgia spent his early career as a professor of law at the University of Lleida; he later served as a diplomat for the kings of Aragon. He became a tutor for King Alfonso V's illegitimate son Ferdinand. After arranging a reconciliation between Alfonso and Pope Martin V, Borgia was made Bishop of Valencia. In 1444, Pope Eugene IV named him a cardinal, and Borgia became a member of the Roman Curia. During the siege of Belgrade (1456), Callixtus initiated the custom that bells be rung at midday to remind the faithful to pray for the crusaders. The tradition of the Angelus noon bell still exists in most Catholic Churches to this day. He was also responsible for the retrial of Joan of Arc that saw her vindicated. He appointed two nephews as cardinals, one of whom became Pope Alexander VI.

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