Veritas ipsa is letter of pope Paul III with cardinal Jean of Tavera, archbishop of Tolède, in which it declares that the Amerindian are human beings, which are entitled to freedom and the property, and condemns the practice of the Esclavage. The pope repeated his declaration (with almost the same terms) in his pontifical Bulle, Sublimis Deus , published less than four weeks later.

Text published on June 2nd, 1537 by the pope Paul III

“The Truth itself, which can neither mislead neither to be mistaken neither to be misled nor to become misled, said clearly when it intended the preachers of the faith for the ministry for the word: “Teach all the nations”. She said all, without exception, since all the men are able to receive the teaching of the faith. What indicator, the jealous adversary of mankind, always hostile with human works in order to destroy them, discovered a new manner of preventing that the word of God is announced, for their safety, with the United Nations. It pushed some of its henchmen, avid to satisfy their cupidity, to declare publicly that the inhabitants of the Western and southernmost Indies, and other people still which arrived to our knowledge these times, were to be used for our service, like rough animals, under pretext which they do not know the catholic faith. They reduce them in slavery in their imposing drudgeries such as they would hardly dare to inflict some with their own pets.

However Us, who, in spite of our unworthiness, tenons the place of the Lord on ground, and which wish, of all our forces, to bring to Its fold the ewes of Its herd which are entrusted to us and which are still out of Its fold, considering that these Indians, as true human beings, are not only suited to the Christian faith, but still, according to what We learned, run with haste towards this faith, and wishing to bring all the helps necessary to them, We decide and declare, by the present letters, under the terms of Our apostolic Authority, that the aforementioned Indians and all the other people which would arrive infuture with the knowledge of the Christians, even if they live out of the faith or are originating in other regions, freely can and licitly to use, have and enjoy the freedom and the property of their goods, and do not have to be reduced in slavery. Any measurement taken in contradiction with these principles is repealed and invalidated.

Moreover, We declare and decide that the Indians and the other people which have suddenly been discovered in the world must be invited to the aforementioned faith of Christ by the preaching of the word of God and for the example of a virtuous life. All last or future things contrary with these provisions are to regard as null and not avenues.

Given to Rome, the June 2nd of the year 1537, Our Pontificate the third. ”

See too

• Decree of 1526 of Charles-Quint

• Controversy of Valladolid