Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Diocesi di Malabo
Malabo (Fides News Agency) – Yesterday, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Pope Leo XIV began the final leg of his apostolic journey to Africa with his arrival in Equatorial Guinea. “After 44 years, the Successor of Peter is among us, and we have welcomed him with great affection, as only Equatorial Guinea knows how. It was an encounter between ‘heaven and earth.” The Pope has given us his closeness, reminding us of the presence of Christ among us with his demanding and profound words, and with his embrace of children,” Sister Giusy Becchero, of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), who works in the Archdiocese of Malabo, wrote to Fides. “The most beautiful moment was when he took the children in his arms and let them hug him… it made me think of the phrase ‘Blessed are the humble and the pure of heart,’” the FMA sister added.
“This trip evokes that of Saint John Paul II in 1982, who was received by the same President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Before him, in power for more than four decades, Leo XIV delivered a balanced yet significant speech at the Presidential Palace. Without adopting a confrontational tone, he invited the authorities to “place themselves at the service of law and justice,” emphasizing the importance of a sincere commitment to the common good.” “I know that you have undertaken the ambitious project of building a city that, for a few months now, has been the new capital of your country. You have chosen a name that seems to echo that of biblical Jerusalem: City of Peace.” “May this decision challenge each person’s conscience regarding which city they wish to serve!” the Pope said, addressing the president, the authorities, and the diplomatic corps. “It is worth remembering,” Sister Giusy noted, “that until a few days ago, the capital of Equatorial Guinea was Malabo; now there will be a new capital called the City of Peace.
The Holy Father spoke at length about the theme of peace, emphasizing that it is not something that is built like a city, but a reality that is born from within.”
Another highlight of the day was the visit to the “León XIV” campus of the National University, which was inaugurated in his name. “It is worth the effort to continue wagering on the formation of new generations and on the task, so demanding and yet so noble, of seeking the truth and putting knowledge at the service of the common good,” the Pope affirmed. A truth “that precedes us, calls us and transcends us,” and that “is not fabricated, not manipulated nor possessed like a trophy, but welcomed, sought with humility and served with responsibility.”
“Beyond official meetings,” Sister Giusy continues, “the Pope also made concrete gestures, faithful to the spirit of his pontificate.” “The visit to the Jean-Pierre Olié Psychiatric Hospital in Malabo was one of the most significant moments of the day. By visiting the patients and the healthcare staff, he highlighted an often-marginalized reality: that of vulnerable people, especially those suffering from mental disorders. This pastoral gesture reminds us that human dignity does not depend on social status or health condition, but is inherent in every person. Those in charge of the center interpreted the visit as a powerful signal and a call to pay greater attention to those who are often forgotten. In a Country where significant health and social challenges persist, the Pope’s presence provides an incentive to promote more inclusive and humane policies,” she added.
“This stop in Equatorial Guinea,” concludes the nun, “well sums up the spirit of Leo XIV’s journey to Africa: a delicate balance between prophetic words and diplomacy, coupled with a concrete closeness to the most vulnerable. In invoking law, justice, and solidarity, the Pope is addressing not only those in power, but all of society, called to be the protagonists of a more just and fraternal future.” (AP) (Fides News Agency, 22/4/2026)
