Spain has acknowledged and expressed regret for the “pain and injustice” endured by Mexico’s Indigenous peoples during the conquest of the Americas, marking a change in tone after six years of diplomatic disputes over colonial-era abuses.
In March 2019, Mexico’s then-president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, wrote to King Felipe VI and Pope Francis, urging them to apologize for the “massacres and oppression” of colonialism and the conquest. The Spanish government responded angrily at the time, stating that Spain’s actions 500 years ago should not be judged by modern standards and that the two countries’ shared history should be viewed without anger and from a common perspective.
However, on Friday, the Spanish government signaled a more conciliatory and remorseful stance. At the opening of an exhibition in Madrid honoring Indigenous women of Mexico, Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, reflected on their shared history.
“It’s a very human history and, like every human history, it has had its light and its shadows,” he said. “And there has also been pain—pain and injustice toward the Indigenous people to whom this exhibition is dedicated. There was injustice, and it’s right to acknowledge that today and to express regret for it, because it is also part of our shared history, and we can neither deny nor forget it.”
His remarks came four days after Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, renewed calls for an apology, stating, “We agreed with the letter sent by President López Obrador, and we are still waiting for a reply.”
Sheinbaum welcomed Albares’s comments, describing them as a step toward recognizing past wrongs. “It’s a first step and speaks to the importance of what we’ve always said: that apologies ennoble governments and peoples,” she noted. “It’s not humiliating; it’s just the opposite. Congratulations to the foreign minister of the Spanish government, especially in this Year of the Indigenous Woman.”
The conquest of Mexico began in 1519 when Hernán Cortés led hundreds of soldiers, equipped with horses, carrying diseases like smallpox, and aided by Indigenous groups opposed to the Aztecs, to Mexico City, then known as Tenochtitlán. The Spanish sacked the city two years later and proceeded to convert the Indigenous populations to Catholicism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Spains expression of regret regarding the conquest of Mexico designed to be clear and conversational
General Beginner Questions
1 What exactly did Spain say
In 2021 the King of Spain and the Prime Minister expressed regret for the wrongs of the past and the suffering and injustices endured by the Indigenous peoples of Mexico during the conquest 500 years ago
2 Why is this happening now
The statement was made on the 500th anniversary of the fall of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan It was partly in response to a request from the Mexican president for a full apology
3 Did Spain officially apologize
No not a formal apology The Spanish government was careful to use the word regret rather than apologize An apology is often seen as a stronger more formal acceptance of blame and responsibility
4 Who were the Indigenous peoples affected
Primarily the Aztec Empire but also many other civilizations and citystates across the territory that is now Mexico such as the Maya Tlaxcalans and Purepecha
5 What were the main injustices mentioned
This refers to the violence of the military conquest the spread of diseases that killed millions the forced labor systems and the suppression of Indigenous cultures religions and languages
Deeper Advanced Questions
6 Whats the difference between regret and an apology in this context
Regret expresses sorrow or disappointment about past events It acknowledges that something bad happened
An Apology accepts direct fault and responsibility for those events Spains use of regret allows it to acknowledge the suffering without accepting legal or financial liability
7 Why wont Spain issue a full apology
Governments often avoid formal apologies for historical events due to concerns about legal repercussions such as claims for reparations Its also a politically sensitive issue that involves interpreting complex history
8 How have people in Mexico reacted to this
Reactions were mixed Some saw it as a positive first step while others including the Mexican president felt it was insufficient and continued to push for a full apology Many Indigenous groups stated that actions to address presentday
