MALABO, Equatorial Guinea \u2013 Pope Leo XIV warned Tuesday against invoking God to justify persecution and violence, telling civilian officials and diplomats in Equatorial Guinea that “His holy name must not be profaned by a desire to dominate, by arrogance or by discrimination; above all, it must never be invoked to justify the choices and actions of death.”<\/p>\n
Speaking at the Presidential Palace in Malabo on 21 April, the Pope framed his address around the Church’s social doctrine, calling it a guide to addressing “new things” that destabilize human coexistence, including rising inequality, the exploitation of natural resources and the abuse of technology.<\/p>\n
Leo said the world is facing developments that “shake the foundations of human experience” and reiterated that it is “the essential duty of civil authorities and concrete politics to overcome obstacles to integral human development \u2013 \u200b\u200ba mission based on the basic principles of solidarity and the universal destination of goods.”<\/p>\n
The Pope pointed to rapid technological development as a factor worsening global imbalances.<\/p>\n
“For example, it cannot be ignored that the rapid technological advances we are witnessing have intensified speculation about raw materials,” he said. \u201cThis change appears to outweigh fundamental imperatives such as the safety of creation, the rights of local communities, the dignity of labor and the protection of public health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV meets with President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the Presidential Palace in Malabo on April 21, 2026. Credit: Vatican Media<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Remembering Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his death, Leo reiterated his predecessor’s condemnation of unjust economic systems, saying: “Today we also have to say ‘You must not do this’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills.”<\/p>\n
He said armed conflicts are increasingly linked to the exploitation of oil and mineral reserves.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed, it is even more clear today than in previous years that the spread of armed conflicts is often driven by the exploitation of oil and mineral reserves, without regard to international law or the self-determination of peoples,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Leo also warned that new technologies are often developed and deployed primarily for military purposes rather than for the common good.<\/p>\n
“On the contrary, without a change in the direction of political responsibility and respect for institutions and international agreements there is a risk of a tragic compromise with the destiny of humanity,” he said.<\/p>\n
The Pope arrived in Malabo and was greeted festively by crowds lining the streets of the capital. He later held a private meeting of about 30 minutes with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has led the country since 1979 and also welcomed St. John Paul II during his 1982 visit.<\/p>\n
In his address, Leo recalled that John Paul II had described the presidency as “the symbolic center where the living aspirations of the people gather” for freedom, justice and respect for rights \u2013 words Leo said “remain timely and challenge anyone entrusted with public responsibility.”<\/p>\n
The Pope also reflected on St. Augustine’s image of the “city of God” and the “worldly city”, noting that each person’s daily decisions reveal which city he or she belongs to.<\/p>\n
Referring to Equatorial Guinea’s planned new capital, Ciudad de la Paz, Leo said its name “seems to echo the Biblical city of Jerusalem” and should prompt each person to ask “which city they want to serve.”<\/p>\n
He said Christians are called to live in the earthly city while keeping their hearts focused on their true homeland, the heavenly city, and he urged freedom from “the pursuit of unjust wealth and the illusion of dominion.”<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nPope Leo XIV receives gifts during a meeting with Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the Presidential Palace in Malabo on April 21, 2026. Credit: Vatican Media<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Leo presented the social doctrine of the Church as a resource not only for Catholics but for all who wish to respond to modern turmoil by putting “the Kingdom of God and His justice” first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a fundamental dimension of the Church\u2019s mission: to contribute to the formation of conscience through the proclamation of the Gospel, the provision of moral norms and authentic moral principles \u2013 while respecting individual freedom and the autonomy of nations and their governments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Calling Equatorial Guinea “a young country”, Leo said the Church is ready to help build “independent and responsible consciences” to build a just future.<\/p>\n
“In a world scarred by ego, people are hungry and thirsty for justice,” he said. “It is necessary to encourage those who believe in peace and have the courage to engage in ‘countercurrent’ politics \u2013 those that place the common good at their centre.”<\/p>\n
He concluded with an appeal for youth formation and moral courage: “What is urgently needed is the courage of new approaches and an educational compromise that gives space and confidence to youth.”<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us move with knowledge and hope toward the City of God, the City of Peace,\u201d the Pope said.<\/p>\n
In remarks welcoming the Pope, Obiang said the visit coincided with the 170th anniversary of evangelization in Equatorial Guinea, where he said about 90% of the population is Catholic, making it “a favorable area for Christianity in Central Africa.”<\/p>\n