Equatorial Guinea: Pope urges Christians to build a future of hope

Pope was welcomed at Bata Stadium with joyful music and dancing - Image Vatican Media

Source: Vatican Media

On the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Equatorial Guinea, Pope Leo XIV celebrated morning Mass in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Mongomo, visited a prison, and then met over 30,000 young people and families in a huge stadium.

In his homily during Mass Pope Leo recalled the missionaries who began to evangelize Equatorial Guinea 170 years ago, and pointed to the words of Pope St Paul VI in 1969: "Africans, from now on, you are missionaries to yourselves."

He thanked the many missionaries, priests, religious, and lay people who have become signs of God's love. "Through the example of their lives," he said, "they have played their part in bringing about the Kingdom of God, unafraid of suffering for their fidelity to Christ." The Pope encouraged the congregation to make a personal commitment to follow Christ and to carry out charitable works for the good of their neighbours. "Such a commitment requires perseverance; it demands effort and, at times, sacrifice," he said. "Yet, it is the sign that we are truly the Church of Christ."

Despite facing persecution or difficult family situations, Christians must trust that the Lord makes the seed of His Kingdom grow and therefore show God's love for those around them, said the Pope. God's love, he added, will strengthen those who proclaim His name and bear witness to Him with joy.

Pope Leo went on to reflect on the hunger that Equatorial Guineans and all people feel in their daily lives: for hope. "There is hunger for a future imbued with hope that is capable of engendering a new sense of justice and producing fruits of peace and fraternity," he said. "This is not an unknown future that we must passively await, but rather one that we ourselves are called to build with God's grace."

He invited everyone to contribute to the future of their nation with their choices and commitment to "safeguarding the life and dignity of every person."

The Pope recalled that Equatorial Guinea has been blessed with natural resources, which include extensive offshore petroleum and natural gas deposits, as well as largely untapped buried minerals like gold, diamonds, and uranium. This natural wealth, he said, should be made a blessing for all Equatorial Guineans through their integral development, renewal, and transformation.

"May the Lord help you to become a society in which everyone, each according to their respective responsibilities, works ever more fully to serve the common good rather than private interests, bridging the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged," he said.

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV urged the Christians of Equatorial Guinea to take their country's destiny into their own hands, proclaim the Gospel, and help build a future of hope for their nation.

Watch the Mass in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Mongomo: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YoRTsPtB3g

Visit to Bata Prison

After the Mass, Pope Leo XIV visited the prison of Bata, meeting inmates, staff, and representatives of prison pastoral care in the courtyard - where detainees and staff had gathered in song and dance.

After a brief welcome address and a short testimony from one of the inmates, Pope Leo addressed the inmates and prison staff, saying, "I have listened carefully to your words", and he thanked those who had spoken before him. He pointed to their testimony as evidence that "human dignity and hope are never lost, even in the midst of difficulties". He then emphasised: "No one is excluded from God's love."

Referring to the image of Christ as an example, he recalled that even in situations of injustice and suffering, love retains the capacity to transform. For this reason, he said, every person remains "precious in the Lord's eyes," regardless of their past.

Pope Leo then went on to address the role of the justice system. He recognised its responsibility to protect society but stressed that it must also promote the dignity and potential of each individual. "True justice seeks not so much to punish as to help rebuild the lives of victims, offenders and communities wounded by evil", he said, adding that "there is no justice without reconciliation".

Speaking then directly to the inmates, the Pope described prison not only as a place of confinement, but also as a possible space for reflection and personal development. He emphasised the importance of access to education and meaningful work during detention. "Life is not defined solely by one's mistakes," he said, reminding the inmates that "there is always the possibility to start over."

He also addressed the experience of isolation, reminding inmates that they are not alone. "Your families love you and are waiting for you. Many people outside these walls are praying for you", he said, adding, again, that God does not abandon anyone.

The Pope finally thanked the prison director, officers, and chaplain for their work, highlighting the importance of combining security with respect and humane treatment. This, he said, helps create the conditions necessary for reintegration into society.
At the end of the meeting, an inmate presented the Pope with a wooden cross made inside the prison, describing it as a symbol of their "stories, wounds and hope" for a new beginning.

Watch the visit to Bata Prison on the Vatican Media youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNRoaQDqAsc

Meeting with Young People and Families

Pope Leo received a huge welcome from more than 30,000 people - with music, songs, colours, smiles, and joy when he arrived at Bata Stadium, in the evening. Thanking them for such a warm reception, the Pope recalled the motto of the visit to Equatorial Guinea: "Christ, Light of Equatorial Guinea, toward a future of hope"- and assured them that "the brightest light here is the one that shines in your eyes, on your faces, in your smiles, and through your songs," all bearing witness that "Christ is the joy, meaning, inspiration, and beauty of our lives."

The Pope's address, preceded by a welcome from the Apostolic Administrator of Bata, Bishop Miguel Ángel Nguema Bee, followed a series of testimonies that served as the guiding thread of his reflection. It began with Alicia, who spoke about the importance of being faithful to our duties and contributing, through daily work, to the good of the family and society.

"She shared with us her dream of a land "where young people, men and women, do not seek easy success, but choose the culture of effort, discipline and hard work - a land where this is valued." She said that being Christian means not only participating in the Eucharistic celebration, but also working with dignity and treating everyone with respect. She also spoke about the challenges women face in the workplace.

Then came the Pope's response to seminarian Francisco Martín, who, speaking of his vocational calling, shared not only the joy of opening his life wide to God but also the struggles before saying his "yes," which he embraced with joy and deep serenity.

"A life given to God is one of happiness, but it must be renewed each day through prayer, the sacraments and time spent with the brothers and sisters whom the Lord places along our path. In the communion of hearts and in acts of kindness toward those in need, the miracles of charity are continually renewed. So, if you feel that Christ is calling you to follow him in a path of special consecration - as priests, religious sisters, or religious brothers, catechists - do not be afraid to follow in his footsteps."

To the families present, the example of Purificación and Jaime Antonio served as a reminder that, by trusting in God, their families can grow in unity, welcoming life as a gift to be protected and educated for an encounter with the Lord.

"Being spouses and parents is an exciting mission - a covenant to be lived day by day. Within this covenant, you will continually rediscover one another as you cooperate with God in the miracle of life and in building happiness for yourselves and for your children. Be prepared to embrace this calling as a journey of true love that grows in freedom; as a journey of hope, born from the knowledge that God will never abandon you; and as journey of holiness, in which you always seek the good and happiness of others."

Finally, the Pope thanked the "sincerity and courage" of a 13-year-old boy, the son of a single mother abandoned by his father, whose words should encourage us to build a better world, based on respect for life that is born and grows. We are called to cultivate, live, and bear witness to life despite sacrifices, judgments, prejudices, and stereotypes that seek to diminish its value.

"Victor Antonio has reminded us that welcoming life requires love, commitment and care. These words, spoken by a young person, should lead us to reflect seriously on the importance of protecting and safeguarding the family and the values learned within it."

The Pope said it was very important that every person should feel respected and no one be forgotten. "May institutions take part in transforming the world; and together let us make this a firm resolution, a joyful commitment, so that Christ, Light of Equatorial Guinea, of Africa, and of the whole world, may guide us all toward a future of hope," he said.

"Dear young people, parents and all who are present, let us be inspired by the beauty of love; let us become witnesses to the love that Jesus has given us and taught us! Let us show every day that it is beautiful to love - that the greatest joys, in every situation, come from knowing how to give and from giving of ourselves, especially when we reach out to those most in need. The light of charity, nurtured in our homes and lived out in faith, can truly transform the world..."

Watch the Meeting with Young People and Families: www.youtube.com/watch?v=swOyo7hiAhU