Pope Leo XIV arrives in Equatorial Guinea for a diplomatically challenging visit

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, completing the final leg of his four-country African tour while delivering pointed remarks about the exploitation of the continent’s natural resources in a nation led by Africa’s longest-serving president.

Crowds of enthusiastic Catholic faithful lined the streets of Malabo, the administrative capital, cheering as the pontiff passed by in his open-sided popemobile wearing his formal red mozzetta cape. The visit marks the first papal presence in the country since Pope John Paul II’s 1982 tour.

“There is a lot of joy today because we waited 44 years for the pope to come,” said Diosdado Marques, a senior Catholic official. “It’s a blessing for the country. We hope many things will change and we will deepen our faith.”

The timing of the visit carried special significance, occurring on the first anniversary of Pope Francis’s death. Leo referenced his predecessor while addressing government officials, diplomats, and civil servants at the presidential palace, where he met with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled the country since 1979.

In his address, the pope offered thinly veiled criticism of the economic disparities plaguing the oil-rich nation, quoting Pope Francis’s assertion that an economy focused solely on profit “kills.” Leo condemned what he called the “colonization of oil and mineral deposits” that drives armed conflicts and disregards “international law or the self-determination of peoples.”

“It is even more evident today than in years past that the proliferation of armed conflicts is often driven by the colonization of oil and mineral deposits,” Leo stated, addressing the complex dynamics of resource exploitation across Africa.

Equatorial Guinea presents a stark example of these disparities. Following the discovery of offshore oil in the mid-1990s, the country’s economy transformed dramatically. Oil now accounts for almost half of its GDP and over 90% of exports, according to the African Development Bank. Yet more than half of the nearly 2 million citizens live in poverty.

Human rights organizations and legal proceedings in European courts have documented how the country’s oil wealth has primarily enriched President Obiang’s family rather than benefiting the broader population. The government faces persistent allegations of corruption, harassment of political opponents, and suppression of journalists.

Without directly naming the Obiang regime, Leo offered pointed commentary on governance, stating, “The earthly city is centered upon the proud love of self, on the lust for power and worldly glory that leads to destruction. It is essential to discern the difference between that which lasts and that which passes, remaining free from the pursuit of unjust wealth and the illusion of dominion.”

The pope’s remarks came against the backdrop of increasing global competition for Africa’s critical minerals. The Trump administration has been actively working to secure access to mineral-rich regions across Africa, competing with China’s established influence. Recent U.S. initiatives include partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo and investments in the Lobito Corridor rail project to facilitate mineral exports from Zambia and Congo through Angola.

Equatorial Guinea’s government has been constructing a new capital on the mainland named Ciudad de la Paz (City of Peace), though the transfer of government functions remains incomplete. Critics argue the project will worsen inequalities while creating opportunities for further self-enrichment by the presidential circle.

Leo referenced this development by citing St. Augustine’s famous work “City of God,” suggesting Equatorial Guinea should aspire toward the philosopher’s model of an eternal city characterized by divine love and concern for the poor, rather than earthly power.

The relationship between the Catholic Church and the Obiang government presents challenges. Though approximately 75% of Equatorial Guinea’s population identifies as Catholic, making it one of Africa’s most Catholic countries, church leaders maintain close connections with the government.

“Church leaders are very much interconnected intrinsically with the government,” explained Tutu Alicante, a U.S.-based activist who runs the EG Justice rights group. “Part of it is the fear the government has instilled in everyone, including the church, and part of it is the monetary gains that the church derives from this government.”

The Rev. Fortunatus Nwachukwu, a senior Vatican official, defended the church’s approach, stating, “Should the church go to war against the government? Surely no. Should the church swallow everything as if it were normal? No. The church has to continue preaching justice, always in defense of life, human dignity and the common good.”

Leo’s itinerary includes a visit to a prison in the port city of Bata on Wednesday. The visit comes amid reports that Equatorial Guinea has received millions of dollars from the Trump administration to accept migrants deported from the U.S., including at least 29 individuals with no ties to the country. Some remain in detention with limited legal and medical support—a practice Leo has previously characterized as “extremely disrespectful.”

After visiting Angola, the pontiff will conclude his African journey in Equatorial Guinea before returning to the Vatican.