Pope Leo has criticized the treatment of prisoners in Equatorial Guinea, ahead of a visit to a jail known for its dire conditions.
He addressed the Central African nation on Wednesday at a Mass that drew some 100,000 people, including Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the country's leader and the world's longest-serving president.
Pope Leo stated: My thoughts go to the poorest, to families experiencing difficulty and to prisoners who are often forced to live in troubling hygienic and sanitary conditions.
Equatorial Guinea, rich in oil yet plagued by vast income inequalities, marks the final stop on the Pope's four-nation African tour.
In the evening of his last full day, Pope Leo is scheduled to visit an infamous prison in the economic capital, Bata.
Amnesty International has reported that inmates in Bata prison are “routinely beaten as punishment.” Furthermore, many prisoners have either been unaccounted for by their families or their current status is unknown.
During the Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mongomo, the Pope urged Equatoguineans to prioritize the common good over private interests, and emphasized that the nation’s resources should improve lives rather than benefit an elite few.
The Pope admonished, The Creator has endowed you with great natural wealth. I urge you to work together so that it may be a blessing for all, warning that the nation's future relies on the choices of its people.
Under Obiang’s government, corruption allegations have arisen, with claims that oil revenues are misused for the benefit of the politically powerful. Transparency International lists Equatorial Guinea among the world’s most corrupt nations, with a significant portion of the population living in poverty.
Pope Leo's visit comes amidst widespread political repression, with little tolerance for opposition and media control essential by the government.
He concluded with a call for increased freedoms, stating, May there be greater room for freedom and may the dignity of the human person always be safeguarded. His remarks during this tour have focused on challenging tyrants and the exploitation of Africa's resources, advocating for human rights across the continent.
