Pope Leo arrives in Equatorial Guinea to jubilant crowds

Pope Leo’s visit to Equatorial Guinea spotlighted urgent global issues, as he warned that war, resource exploitation, and weakening international law threaten humanity’s future. The U.S.-born pontiff also emphasized human rights and reconciliation during his ongoing African tour.

Antonio Denti, Yesim Dikmen/Reuters

22 April 2026 at 06:27:11

Pope Leo arrives in Equatorial Guinea to jubilant crowds

Pope Leo XIV speaks during his visit to the "Jean Pierre Olie" psychiatric hospital in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, April 21, 2026.

Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

Pope Leo arrived in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday (April 21), disembarking at Malabo International Airport to a formal honour guard and red-carpet alongside President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

Addressing officials from the podium, Leo warned that humanity’s future risks being “tragically compromised” by ongoing wars and the erosion of international law. He condemned the exploitation of oil and mineral resources, saying such “colonization” fuels conflict and suffering.

The pontiff later met with the long-serving leader before heading to the National University, where students and traditional dancers gathered in anticipation.

The first U.S.-born pope also criticized global leadership failures, echoing earlier remarks on his Africa tour. His stance has drawn criticism from figures including Donald Trump. Leo’s visit, part of a wider African tour, will continue on Wednesday (April 22) with planned stops at a prison and a blast site, highlighting human rights and reconciliation.

-Antonio Denti, Yesim Dikmen/Reuters