Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday condemned economic inequality and poor prison conditions as he concluded a four-nation Africa tour in Equatorial Guinea, using his final full day in the region to deliver some of his most forceful remarks yet on social justice and governance.
The pontiff, the first U.S. pope, travelled across the oil-rich Central African nation, where he urged believers to “bridge the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged” during a Mass attended by tens of thousands in Mongomo.
The visit marks the final stop of a week-long tour that has taken Leo across several African countries, in what the Vatican described as one of the most logistically complex international trips undertaken by a modern pope.
Addressing worshippers in Mongomo, the pope warned against societies shaped by deep inequality, calling on political and religious leaders to prioritise the common good over private interests.
He also spoke out strongly on detention conditions, criticising the treatment of prisoners who, he said, are often held in “troubling hygienic and sanitary conditions”.
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Later in the day, Leo was scheduled to visit a high-security prison in Bata, where human rights organisations say political detainees are held for prolonged periods without adequate legal access.
The Vatican said the pope would hear testimonies from inmates before offering remarks, in a visit expected to highlight concerns over due process and prison reform in the country.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea since 1979, attended parts of the papal visit alongside members of his government. His administration has faced long-standing criticism from international rights groups over governance and civil liberties, allegations the government denies.
The country’s leadership maintains that its justice system is functional and that it respects democratic principles, despite persistent accusations from rights organisations of political repression.
Equatorial Guinea, a small oil-producing nation of about 1.8 million people, experienced rapid economic growth following the discovery of offshore oil in the 1990s, though much of that wealth has been criticised for failing to translate into broad-based development.
Pope Leo’s visit also included a stop at a memorial site in Bata marking the 2021 explosions at a military barracks that killed more than 100 people. Authorities attributed the blasts to improper storage of ammunition, though calls for an independent investigation have gone unheeded.
Throughout his Africa tour, Leo has adopted a notably direct tone, speaking frequently on issues of war, governance and inequality, a style that has drawn both praise and political friction, including criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Vatican said roughly 100,000 people attended the Mass in Mongomo, with crowds gathering inside and outside the basilica to see the pontiff, many waving flags and chanting as his popemobile passed through the city.
For many worshippers, the visit carried strong symbolic weight. “It is a huge joy to have the pope visiting us,” said one attendee, echoing widespread enthusiasm for the rare papal trip to the region.
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The visit to Equatorial Guinea is the first by a pope since 1982, underscoring its significance for the country’s largely Catholic population.
Leo is expected to return to Rome after completing his final engagements in Bata, concluding a tour that has focused heavily on social inequality, conflict and human dignity across Africa.
