Pope Leo XIV visits Equatorial Guinea on final leg of first Africa tour

Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Equatorial Guinea on the final leg of his first African tour, where he will meet leaders, hold masses, and visit key sites. The visit continues his messages on peace, justice, and opposition to tyranny as he wraps up an 11-day tour across four African countries.

Pope Leo XIV has begun the final stage of his first African tour with a visit to Equatorial Guinea after spending three days in Angola. The 11-day trip, which covers four countries, is the pontiff’s first visit to the African continent since becoming pope.
He is expected to arrive in the capital around midday and will meet President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society representatives, and cultural leaders. The visit follows a historic precedent set by Pope John Paul II, who visited Equatorial Guinea 40 years ago.
Equatorial Guinea, an oil-rich nation of about two million people, is predominantly Catholic, with roughly 80% of its population belonging to the Church, a legacy of Spanish colonial influence. The country has prepared extensively for the papal visit, with streets decorated with Vatican and national flags, giant portraits of the pope displayed in public spaces, and church choirs set to perform a hymn composed in his honour.
Across his African tour, Pope Leo has spoken strongly on issues such as tyranny, exploitation, and the need for peace and social justice. His tone has been described as more direct and forceful compared to his earlier reserved style, reflecting his emphasis on addressing political and social challenges affecting the continent.
During his stay, he is scheduled to travel to Mongomo, the stronghold of President Obiang, where he will celebrate a mass and meet students and teachers at a technology school named after Pope Francis. He will also visit Bata, the country’s economic hub, where he is expected to pay tribute to victims of a 2021 military explosion that killed more than 100 people and also visit inmates at the local prison.
The visit will conclude with a large outdoor mass at a stadium in Malabo before the pope wraps up his 18,000-kilometre journey across Africa, marking the end of a significant and symbolic tour focused on faith, peace, and unity.