Pope Leo has strongly criticised the treatment of inmates in Equatorial Guinea’s prisons, urging authorities to move beyond punishment and embrace a justice system that protects society and upholds human dignity.
During a visit to a high-security jail in Bata on Wednesday – known for its dire conditions – the pontiff told hundreds of inmates gathered in the prison courtyard that true justice “seeks not so much to punish as to help rebuild the lives of victims, offenders and communities.”
“To be effective, however, it must always promote the dignity of every person,” he added, encouraging the prisoners not to give in to despair.
The visit came as part of the Pope’s four-nation tour of Africa, which has already taken him to Algeria, Cameroon and Angola. Equatorial Guinea, an oil-rich but deeply unequal nation, is his final stop.
Human rights groups have long condemned the Bata prison as a tool to silence political opponents. Amnesty International has reported that inmates are “reportedly routinely beaten as punishment,” with many prisoners “neither seen nor heard from” – their families unsure if they are alive or dead.
Equatorial Guinea’s Justice Minister, Reginaldo Biyogo Ndong, defended the government’s record, insisting that detainees are treated fairly and that the state is committed to protecting human rights.
But Pope Leo’s message was unambiguous. “You are not alone,” he told the prisoners. “Your families love you and are waiting for you. Many people outside these walls are praying for you.”
As he departed, inmates drenched in the rain shouted “freedom.”
Earlier in the day, the Pope celebrated a Mass in Mongomo that drew about 100,000 people, including President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – the world’s longest-serving leader, who seized power in 1979.
Speaking at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Leo urged Equatoguineans “to serve the common good rather than private interests, bridging the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged.” He called for the country’s vast natural resources to benefit the wider population, not just a privileged few.
“The Creator has endowed you with great natural wealth. I urge you to work together so that it may be a blessing for all,” he said, warning that the nation’s future depends on the choices its people make.
His remarks come against a backdrop of severe wealth inequality. The World Bank reports that more than half of Equatoguineans live in poverty, while Transparency International lists the country as one of the world’s most corrupt. Political opposition is barely tolerated, and there is no free press – all broadcast media is either state-owned or controlled by government allies.
“May there be greater room for freedom and may the dignity of the human person always be safeguarded,” the Pope said pointedly.
After visiting the prison, Pope Leo also paid tribute at a memorial for victims of a 2021 military base explosion that killed more than 100 people and injured 600 others. He later addressed locals at the Bata stadium, speaking about “respect for the rights of every citizen, every family, every social group.”
President Obiang, 83, held a private meeting with the Pope on Tuesday. The pontiff will conclude his Africa tour on Thursday morning with a Mass at a stadium in the capital, Malabo.
Throughout his African journey, Pope Leo has spoken with unusual frankness – blasting “tyrants” for spending billions on wars and condemning the “colonisation” of Africa’s mineral resources. Just before departing, he criticised US President Donald Trump over threats against Iran, prompting Trump to call the pontiff “bad for foreign policy.” — Graphic Online
