The Catholic Church was no passive bystander in the European (or so-called ‘transatlantic’) slave trade. In fact, it laid down the (divine) law that paved the way for conquest. Moreover, it took a cut on every African captive and ran slave plantations across the Americas. In more recent times, there have been a few muted apologies - but nothing substantial in terms of reparations. Our Facts of the Week reveal Rome’s hidden hand, tracing how doctrines of conquest became doctrines of exploitation.