Pope Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday arrived in Equatorial Guinea for the final leg of his African tour, where his outspoken advocacy for human rights is expected to draw close attention in one of the continent’s most tightly controlled states.
The visit followed a three-day stay in Angola and marks the concluding stage of his 11-day, 18,000-kilometre tour across Africa.
Pope Leo followed in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II, who visited Equatorial Guinea 40 years ago, becoming the first pontiff to do so in the oil-rich nation of about two million people, where roughly 80 per cent of the population is Catholic.
Since beginning his African tour, the pontiff has adopted a more forceful tone, speaking against tyranny, exploitation, and injustice, while calling for peace and social justice across the continent.
His arrival in Equatorial Guinea is being closely watched due to the country’s political environment under President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled since 1979 and is currently the world’s longest-serving non-monarchical head of state.
Most opposition figures and independent journalists in the country are reportedly in exile, largely based in Spain, amid allegations of repression and restrictions on political freedoms.
International human rights organisations have frequently accused the government of corruption, arbitrary detentions, and suppression of dissent—claims the authorities have consistently denied.
In the capital Malabo, streets were decorated with Vatican and national flags, as well as large portraits of the Pope, ahead of his arrival.
A hymn composed in his honour is expected to be performed by church choirs nationwide.
Local residents expressed hope that the visit would have a unifying impact, with some describing it as a moment of spiritual renewal for the country.
“I think this will bring spiritual change and encourage many people to attend mass,” said one resident.
During his visit, Pope Leo is expected to address government officials, diplomats, civil society groups, and cultural representatives.
He would also travel to Mongomo for a public mass and visit institutions including a technical school and a prison in Bata, where he is expected to meet inmates and honour victims of a 2021 military explosion that killed over 100 people.
The pontiff would conclude his visit with a large outdoor mass in Malabo before ending his African tour.
