Pope Leo urges justice reform in Equatorial Guinea’s prisons | Prison News
Pope Leo Advocates for Prison Reform in Equatorial Guinea During Visit
BATA, Equatorial Guinea (AP) — Pope Leo XIV highlighted the need for humane treatment of inmates as he visited one of the nation’s most notorious prisons on Wednesday. His remarks came as part of his ongoing four-nation tour of Africa, drawing attention to long-standing concerns regarding human rights abuses in the country.
During his visit to the facility in Bata city, the pope addressed approximately 600 detainees, including about 30 women, expressing solidarity with them. “You are not alone,” he said, emphasizing the importance of justice that respects the dignity of all individuals.
The pope observed inmates dressed in bright orange and khaki-green uniforms, sporting shaved heads and wearing plastic sandals. Some were seen wearing face masks amid the ongoing concern for sanitary conditions within the facility.
As rain began to fall during his address, the pope listened to accounts from prisoners who had gathered in a yard. He noted that while the administration of justice aims to protect society, it should also focus on rehabilitation rather than mere punishment. “True justice seeks not so much to punish as to help rebuild the lives of victims, offenders, and communities wounded by evil,” he stated.
A 2023 report by the U.S. Department of State cited instances of torture, extreme overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions in Equatorial Guinea’s prisons, underscoring the urgency of the pope’s message.
This visit marked the tenth day of the papal tour, which began with a large mass in Mongomo, near the Gabon border. During this service, attended by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the pope called for “greater room for freedom” and the protection of human dignity.
Obiang, the world’s longest-serving non-monarch head of state, has faced accusations of human rights violations since assuming power in 1979. During his address, Pope Leo expressed concern for the less fortunate, families in distress, and inmates enduring troubling hygiene conditions. He urged for opportunities for detainees to study and work while incarcerated.
Amid ongoing scrutiny, a coalition of 70 non-governmental organizations recently called on the pope to advocate for “fair, humane and lawful treatment” of deportees, who they argue face coercion to return to their home countries due to an agreement between the Obiang government and the U.S. administration.
As the pope concluded his visit, the appeal for reform in Equatorial Guinea’s penal system became a focal point of his advocacy for human rights throughout his tour.
