The Vatican has rejected the Doctrine of Discovery, will King Charles III follow suit?
“manipulated for political purposes”
The Vatican also stated that these papal bulls were “manipulated for political purposes by competing colonial powers in order to justify immoral acts against Indigenous peoples that were carried out, at times, without opposition from ecclesiastical authorities”.
One culture is not superior to another
In addition, the Vatican cited Pope Francis’ words to the Indigenous during his visit to Canada related to the discovery of mass graves at residential schools, “Never again can the Christian community allow itself to be infected by the idea that one culture is superior to others, or that it is legitimate to employ ways of coercing others.”
Hesitant to celebrate![]()
However, Indigenous leaders in Canada say they are hesitant to celebrate this important step. CBC News spoke to Ernie Daniels, a former chief of Long Plain First Nation in Manitoba, who was among the Indigenous leaders who went to Rome in 2022 to meet with Pope Francis to discuss the matter. Daniels also was with the delegation that met with the Pope while he was in Canada last summer.
“there has to be a fundamental change”
Daniels told CBC News, “On the surface, it sounds good, it looks good … but there has to be a fundamental change in attitudes, behaviour, laws and policies from that statement.”
Mentalities have to change
Daniels also highlighted the importance of institutions around the world changing their colonial mindset towards Indigenous people saying, “There’s still a mentality out there — they want to assimilate, decimate, terminate, eradicate Indigenous people.”
What is the Doctrine of Discovery
The Doctrine of Discovery is a document that until recently, many people around the world have never even heard of. However, for hundreds of years laws and political decisions up to the current day can be traced back to this document.
A decree that sanctions colonization![]()
The decree sanctions and promotes the conquest, colonization, and exploitation of non-Christian territories and people worldwide.
It is the reason there are laws that invalidate Indigenous rights
The Doctrine of Discovery allowed for laws that invalidate or ignore Indigenous people’s rights, sovereignty, and humanity in Canada, the United States, Australia, and across the globe.
Created in 1452 by Pope Nicholas V
The Doctrine of Discovery is a principle of international law that was created by Pope Nicholas V in 1452.
It allowed the Portuguese to attack Muslims in God’s name
Through the issue of a papal bull the Portuguese empire could conquer and enslave Saracens and “pagans” with the Church’s blessing.
Allowing “barbarous nations to be overthrown and brought to faith”
With the Spanish expedition to the Americas came an additional papal bull
Years later, in 1493, the year after the arrival of a Spanish-sponsored expedition to the Americas, Pope Alexander VI (well known for his corruption) issued the papal bull Inter Caetera.
The path was cleared for more brutal colonization![]()
This allowed the Spanish, Portuguese, French, and British empires to devour more of Africa and the Americas.
A long tradition of horrendous acts done in the “name of God”
These Papal Bulls were simply a continuation of what had been going on since at least the 8th century: from Charlemagne, through the Crusades, the Inquisition, the war on witches, to the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula.
First Nations in Canada want King Charles III to embrace reform
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, the First Nations Leadership Council of Canada felt it was time for the new king to embrace reform.
A new approach is needed
Indigenous leaders said that with a change in Canada’s head of state, it was also time for a change in how the Crown approaches the Indigenous of Canada.
First Nations people wanted an apology from the Queen
According to The National Indigenous Times, following Pope Francis’ apology in May 2022 for the Catholic Church’s role in Canadian residential schools, which were notorious for mistreating First Nations children, the Queen was asked for a similar apology.
The Anglican Church also ran residential schools in Canada
The Anglican Church (of which the Queen was head) also operated residential schools throughout Canada, which played a significant role in the cultural genocide the First Nations people of Canada experienced.
A former apology request was made, but the Queen did not act
