Sublimis Deus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Sublimis Deus Error: {{language with name/for}}: missing language tag or language name (help) Papal bull of Pope Paul III

Signature date	2 June 1537
Subject	Slavery

Sublimis Deus (which means The sublime God in English) was an important letter from Pope Paul III. It was released on June 2, 1537. This letter, called a papal bull, said that it was wrong to enslave the indigenous peoples of the Americas (often called "Indians" at the time). It also applied to any other people who might be discovered in the future.

The bull stated that Native Americans were fully human. It said they had rights to freedom and to own private property. This was true even if they were not Christian. Another related document, called Pastorale officium, was released a few days earlier on May 29, 1537. It is often seen as a partner document to Sublimis Deus.

Some people debate how Sublimis Deus relates to other documents like Veritas ipsa and Unigenitus Deus. Some think they are just different versions of the same letter. Others believe Veritas ipsa was an early draft. While many scholars see Sublimis Deus as a key document supporting Native American rights, some also point out that Pope Paul III later removed some of the punishments for breaking its rules in 1538.

In Sublimis Deus, Pope Paul III clearly stated that Native Americans were "truly men." He said they could understand the Christian faith and even wanted to learn about it. He strongly condemned anyone who thought otherwise, saying such ideas came from the "enemy of the human race" (meaning the devil). The Pope declared that making these people slaves was wrong and had no legal power. He said they had a right to liberty and property. The letter ended by calling for them to be taught about Christianity.

This papal bull had a big impact on a famous discussion called the Valladolid debate. Its ideas were included in new laws made by Charles V, the ruler of Spain. However, these laws were often ignored by the Spanish colonists and conquistadores (conquerors) in the Americas. The part of the bull that enforced its rules, called "Pastorale Officium," was later cancelled by Pope Paul in 1537. This happened because Spain asked him to, as they had already cancelled a similar order from Charles.

Why was Sublimis Deus written?

In the late 1400s and early 1500s, European explorers found new lands, especially in the Americas. This led to many questions about the people living there. Were these native people truly human? How should the Spanish conquerors and settlers treat them? There was a lot of debate about these questions.

Earlier, in 1452, Pope Nicholas V had issued a bull called Dum Diversas. This bull allowed the King of Portugal to conquer and enslave non-Christians. Another bull, Romanus Pontifex (1455), also gave rights to take non-Christians as slaves as punishment for crimes.

The main reason Sublimis Deus was written was a meeting held by important missionaries in Mexico in 1537. These included Archbishop Juan de Zumárraga and Bartolomé de Las Casas. They talked about the best ways to teach Christianity to Native Americans. They sent a letter to Rome with a friar named Bernardino de Minaya. Minaya presented their case to the Pope.

In response, Pope Paul III issued Sublimis Deus on June 2, 1537. The "Pastorale officium" document, which was used with Sublimis Deus, said that anyone who did not follow the new rules would be automatically removed from the Church (excommunicated). However, this part was cancelled the next year. Some historians say this was because the Spanish government felt it interfered with their rights. Even so, the ideas of Sublimis Deus continued to be used and quoted by people like Bartolomé de Las Casas who supported Native American rights.

Some historians believe Sublimis Deus cancelled an earlier bull from Pope Alexander VI called Inter caetera. That bull had given Spain rights over new lands. However, Sublimis Deus still said that colonizers had a duty to convert native people to Christianity.

Many people, like Father Gustavo Gutierrez, see Sublimis Deus as a very important document about the treatment of Native Americans. It was meant for all Christians. However, it's important to know that the bull did not change the idea that enslaving non-Christians was allowed if they were considered "enemies of Christendom" in a "just war." Also, some historians point out that Sublimis Deus focused on Native Americans in the New World and did not condemn the African slave trade.

Sublimis Deus facts for kids

Why was Sublimis Deus written?

See also