Sublimus Dei - Pastorale Officium

The Pastorale Officium has been seen as a companion document for Sublimis Dei. The Pastorale outlines specific penalties (principally, excommunication) for Christians who enslave Indians. However, Joel Panzer (The Popes and Slavery, pp. 22–23) believes that the Pastorale was actually meant to enforce a decree against enslaving Indians issued in 1530 by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. The Pastorale actually mentions Charles V. However, such a view would mean that the Pope was unaware that Charles had rescinded that decree in 1534.

In any case, the "Pastorale Officium" was annulled the following year in "Non Indecens Videtur" after complaints by Charles V.

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