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- Pope Leo calls for better prison conditions during Equatorial Guinea visit at end of Africa tour (pbs.org)
Pope Leo XIV Visits Equatorial Guinea Prison, Highlights Hope Amid Human Rights Concerns
BATA, Equatorial Guinea – Pope Leo XIV visited a notorious prison in the Central African port city of Bata on Wednesday, delivering a message of hope to inmates and drawing international attention to the country’s troubling human rights record. The visit, concluding his four-nation African tour, echoed the compassionate outreach of Pope Francis, who often met with prisoners during his travels.
Addressing the inmates in Spanish, Pope Leo reassured them: “You are not alone. Your families love you and are waiting for you.
Many people outside these walls are praying for you. If any of you fear being abandoned by everyone, know that God will never abandon you, and that the Church will stand by your side.”
The prisoners, clad in bright orange and beige uniforms, gathered in a recently painted salmon-pink courtyard where a sudden downpour soaked them as the Pope spoke.
Leo emphasized the role of justice beyond mere punishment, stating, “To be effective, it must always promote the dignity and potential of every person. True justice seeks not so much to punish as to help rebuild the lives of victims, offenders, and communities wounded by evil.”
Following his departure, the soaked inmates broke into a spirited dance, shouting “Libertad! Libertad!
Libertad!” (Freedom, freedom, freedom).
The prison visit gained additional significance amid reports that Equatorial Guinea is among several African countries receiving migrants deported from the United States under controversial agreements made during the Trump administration. While none of these migrants are held at the Bata facility, human rights advocates have long criticized the country’s judiciary for arbitrary detentions and a lack of independence.
Earlier in the day, Pope Leo celebrated Mass in Mongomo, a city on the Gabonese border that has flourished since Equatorial Guinea’s oil boom. Mongomo is the hometown of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, whose four decades in power have been marked by allegations of authoritarianism and corruption. Despite widespread poverty across the country, Mongomo features luxurious developments, including an 18-hole golf course and elaborate gated gardens.
The Mass drew an estimated 100,000 attendees to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, a grand structure inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. President Obiang, his wife, and their son Teodoro “Teddy” Nguema Obiang-the country’s vice president who faced embezzlement convictions in France-were present.
In his homily, Pope Leo called on all citizens to foster a society rooted in justice and freedom, urging leaders to prioritize the common good over private interests and to bridge divides between the privileged and disadvantaged. He also acknowledged the hardships faced by the poor, families in distress, and prisoners living in harsh conditions.
Equatorial Guinea’s justice system and prison conditions have been repeatedly condemned by the United Nations, human rights organizations, and the U.S. State Department for abuses including arbitrary arrests, political detentions, torture, and inadequate detention conditions. Justice Minister Reginaldo Biyogo Ndong dismissed these allegations, asserting that the country upholds international human rights standards and boasts “enviable” judicial infrastructure.
Ahead of the papal visit, nearly 100 individuals arrested during a 2022 crackdown on street protests were released, a development welcomed by local observers. However, activists note that political prisoners and jailed human rights defenders remain behind bars. Seventy human rights groups issued an open letter urging Pope Leo to address the deportation of migrants and call on African nations to reject complicity in these practices, which they say violate international law.
Tutu Alicante, a U.S.-based activist leading the group EG Justice, appealed to the Pope to use his moral influence to spotlight the plight of prisoners of conscience and detained activists in Equatorial Guinea, highlighting ongoing humanitarian and legal concerns.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges facing Equatorial Guinea while offering a message of solidarity and hope to those living behind bars.