One year ago, Pope Francis disavowed the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ – but Indigenous Catholics’ work for respect and recognition goes back decades
- Written by Eben Levey, Assistant Professor of History, Alfred University
Tzotzil women line up for Holy Communion during a Catholic Mass in Chiapas state, Mexico, in 2016. AP Photo/Eduardo VerdugoIt has been more than 500 years since Vatican decrees gave European colonizers permission to carve up the “New World” – and just one since Pope Francis disavowed them.
On March 30, 2023, Francis repudiated the...

