THE Holy See has announced Pope Francis I's repudiation of the 'Doctrine of Discovery,' which many centuries ago was invoked by the monarchs of Spain and Portugal to seize lands, which previously belonged to somebody else. According to the

Vatican: 'Many Christianshave committed evil acts against Indigenous peoples for which recent Popes have asked forgiveness on numerous occasions.' 'The 'doctrine of discovery' is not part of the teaching of the Catholic Church.' 'The Catholic Church therefore repudiates those concepts that fail to recognize the inherent human rights of Indigenous peoples, including what has become known as the legal and political 'doctrine of discovery.''