The first day of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Equatorial Guinea, with 1.6 million inhabitants, 74.81% of whom are Catholics, had two distinct parts, in addition to the noise, cheers and flags of the people in the streets.
Before President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps, the Pontiff said that “the new technologies seem to have been conceived and used mainly for military purposes and in contexts that do not allow us to glimpse an increase in opportunities for all”.
Humanity's destiny, compromised
On the contrary, “without a change of course in the assumption of political responsibility and without respect for institutions and international agreements, the destiny of humanity risks being tragically compromised. God does not want this,” he said.
And using an even stronger tone, he stressed that “His Holy Name cannot be profaned by the will to dominate, arrogance and discrimination; above all, it must never be invoked to justify decisions and actions that cause death”.
Mobiles, networks and AI within reach of millions, including the poor
Then, referring to St. Augustine, to the earthly city and the heavenly city, in which “Christians have their true homeland”, he pointed out that today “exclusion is the new face of social injustice (...) and that “the lack of land, food, housing and decent work coexists with access to new technologies that spread everywhere through globalized markets”.
“Cell phones, social networks and even artificial intelligence,” he has said, “are within the reach of millions of people including the poor”(Speech to the Popular Movements, October 23, 2025).
“It is therefore an inescapable task of the civil authorities and of good politics to remove the obstacles to integral human development, the fundamental principles of which are the universal destination of goods and solidarity.”.
“Serving human life.”
In the afternoon, however, the context was different, and so were the messages. At the Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric Hospital in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, the Pope was “warmly welcomed with dances and songs”, which allowed him to open his heart.
The Vicar of Christ shared his “mixed feelings” every time he visits a hospital. On the one hand, he feels sadness for the patients and their families. However, on the other hand, he admires and feels comforted by all the work done to “serve human life.”.
Being present at the hospital in Malabo is no different, he said. But the Pope noted that it seemed to him that “joy prevails.” This joy that comes from gathering in the name of the Lord and caring for those whose health is fragile.
Moved to “surround weaknesses with love”.”
The Successor of Peter was moved with the testimonies The director of the hospital, Prof. Bechir Ben Hadj Ali, explained that “a truly great society is not one that hides its weaknesses, but one that surrounds itself with love. The director explained that ”a truly great society is not one that hides its weaknesses, but one that surrounds them with love.".
Pope Leo referred to the words of one of the hospital patients, Pedro Celestino, who concluded his testimony by thanking the Holy Father for “loving us just as we are”.
In conclusion, he thanked “Mr. Tarcisio for his poetry. I would like to say that in an environment like this, many hidden “poems” are composed every day, perhaps not with words, but with small gestures, with feelings, with attention to the relationships between you. It is a poem that only God can fully read and that consoles the merciful Heart of Christ”.
The Pope concluded this visit by expressing his closeness to all the patients of the hospital, in particular to the most seriously ill and those who are most alone, and imparted his apostolic blessing to all those present.
The mercy and closeness of Pope Francis
On April 21, during the papal flight from Luanda, Angola, to Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, Pope Leo XIV spoke to journalists traveling with him, reflecting on the legacy of Pope Francis, who died on April 21, 2025.
“I would like to remember, on this first anniversary of his death, Pope Francis, who gave so much to the Church with his life, his witness, his words and his gestures,” Pope Leo told reporters, speaking in Italian.
He recalled how Pope Francis truly lived with “closeness to the poorest, to the little ones, to the sick, to children, to the elderly”.
“We can also remember his message of mercy,” Pope Leo said, recalling in particular how his predecessor invited the whole Church to join in the “beautiful celebration of an extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.”.
“We pray that he is already enjoying the mercy of the Lord and we thank the Lord for the great gift of Francis” life for the whole Church and for the whole world," Leo XIV said during the flight.
The creation of new cardinals has not yet been considered.
Asked about the possibility of appointing new African cardinals, Pope Leo XIV said that “this is a question that many want to ask,” and noted that “it has not yet been decided when new cardinals will be created.”.
“We must look at the question on a global level,” he said. “We hope that, in the future - I don't mean the near future, but in the longer term - Africa, and also Angola, we can consider the creation of new cardinals.”.
Following in the footsteps of St. John Paul II
Leo XIV arrived in Equatorial Guinea in the morning, following in the footsteps of St. John Paul II, who visited this land 44 years ago, and of the Second Vatican Council. The intention is to “confirm in the faith and console the people of this rapidly changing country”.
“We are the only country in Africa that was colonized by the Spanish,” explained Apolinar Mbo Olinga, vicar general of Ebibeyin, one of the country's five dioceses. “We are a special people in Africa: we are the only Spanish-speaking country, with a notorious presence of Catholics. The Church has a very important role there, since colonization, it is very present in education, health... in all sectors of the country. It is the vital soul of Equatorial Guinea”, he told Pontifical Mission Societies Spain (PMS).
At the León XIV University Campus
The Pope also expressed his gratitude for having been invited to the inauguration of a new campus of the National University of Equatorial Guinea, and for giving “my name to this seat, aware that such an honor goes beyond the person and refers rather to the values that together we wish to transmit”.
“This inauguration is a gesture of confidence in human beings,” he said. “It is an affirmation that it is worth continuing to support the training of the new generations and that task, as demanding as it is noble, which consists of seeking the truth and placing knowledge at the service of the common good.”.
Intense Wednesday in Mongomo and Bata
This Wednesday is presented with numerous events in the papal program. Leo XIV flies to Mongomo, celebrates Holy Mass in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, visits the Pope Francis School of Technology, and will travel to Bata, the most populous city in Equatorial Guinea, with 300,000 inhabitants, where he will visit the prison and hold a meeting with young people and families, before returning to Malabo.
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