Pope Leo XIV has called on authorities in Equatorial Guinea to ensure the justice system serves not only to punish, but to protect society and uphold human dignity, as he criticised conditions in the country’s prisons.
Speaking during a visit to a notoriously overcrowded jail in the city of Bata, the Pope told inmates that true justice should focus on rebuilding lives rather than simply imposing punishment. “To be effective, it must always promote the dignity of every person,” he said, urging prisoners not to lose hope.
Rights groups have long raised alarm over conditions in Equatorial Guinea’s detention centres. Amnesty International says inmates are routinely beaten and that some detainees have disappeared without a trace, leaving families uncertain whether their relatives are alive.
The government has rejected the allegations. Justice Minister Reginaldo Biyogo Ndong insisted prisoners are treated fairly and said authorities remain committed to protecting human rights.
The visit to the prison was part of the Pope’s final stop on a wider African tour, during which he has repeatedly spoken out on governance, inequality and human rights. Addressing inmates, he reassured them they were not forgotten, saying their families and people outside the prison were praying for them. As he departed, prisoners reportedly shouted “freedom”.
Later, the Pope visited a memorial for victims of a 2021 military base explosion that killed more than 100 people, before addressing crowds at a stadium in Bata, where he called for respect for the rights of all citizens.
During a Mass attended by tens of thousands, including long-serving President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, he highlighted poverty and inequality in the oil-rich nation, urging leaders to use the country’s vast resources for the benefit of all rather than a privileged few.
Equatorial Guinea has frequently faced criticism over corruption, inequality and restrictions on political opposition and media freedom. International watchdogs rank it among the world’s most corrupt countries, while a significant portion of the population continues to live in poverty despite its oil wealth.
Throughout his visit, the Pope delivered pointed messages on justice and governance, calling for greater freedom and respect for human dignity.
