Pope Leo Highlights Prisoner Abuse in Equatorial Guinea During African Tour

Thu Apr 23 2026 08:54:21 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a powerful conclusion to his African visit, Pope Leo XIV condemns the treatment of prisoners and advocates for increased human rights in Equatorial Guinea, addressing a crowd of thousands.

During his visit to Equatorial Guinea, Pope Leo criticized the country's prison conditions, calling attention to the plight of inmates suffering from dire hygiene issues. His remarks were made at a Mass attended by 100,000 people, including the country's president. The Pope emphasized the need for resource equality and human dignity, urging locals to work towards the common good.

Pope Leo has condemned the treatment of prisoners in Equatorial Guinea, known for its poor prison conditions, during his visit to the Central African nation. At a Mass that drew around 100,000 attendees, including President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the Pope expressed his thoughts towards the poor and families facing difficulties, stating, My thoughts go to the poorest, to families experiencing difficulty and to prisoners who are often forced to live in troubling hygienic and sanitary conditions.

This visit marks the final stop on Pope Leo's four-nation tour of Africa, during which he has spoken on various humanitarian issues. The Pope is scheduled to visit a notorious prison in Bata, the economic capital of Equatorial Guinea, later in the day, where human rights organizations report inmates are routinely beaten and many are missing or unaccounted for.

Amnesty International has highlighted that inmates in Bata prison are subjected to severe abuses, with relatives of numerous prisoners unaware of their loved ones' fates.

The Pope called for the country's abundant resources to benefit all citizens, urging Equatoguineans to aim for societal improvement rather than just serving the elite. He stated, The Creator has endowed you with great natural wealth. I urge you to work together so that it may be a blessing for all, warning that the future of the country depends on the choices made by its people. This plea comes against a backdrop of widespread accusations of corruption and inequality within the nation.

"May there be greater room for freedom and may the dignity of the human person always be safeguarded," the Pope remarked, after private discussions with Obiang, who has ruled since 1979.

Pope Leo has been vocal throughout his tour, criticizing governments for their roles in conflicts and for exploiting Africa's resources. This visit is poised to impact conversations about governance and human rights in Equatorial Guinea.