Pope Leo XIV arrives Tuesday in Equatorial Guinea, where a stark contradiction defines daily life: the former Spanish colony on Africa's western coast generates massive oil revenues while more than half of its nearly 2 million people remain trapped in poverty. The visit marks the final leg of the pontiff's four-nation African journey and his most diplomatically sensitive stop, as he confronts a government accused of enriching ruling elites while ordinary citizens struggle.
The discovery of offshore oil about 30 years ago transformed Equatorial Guinea's economy virtually overnight, with oil now accounting for almost half of its GDP and more than 90% of exports, according to the African Development Bank. Yet the wealth has flowed overwhelmingly to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 83, who has held power for 47 years, and his family. Rights groups including Human Rights Watch, as well as court cases in France and Spain, have documented how revenues have enriched the ruling Obiang family rather than the broader population.
A Pattern of Prophetic Challenge
Leo has shown he won't mince words on this maiden African journey as pope, and the church's teaching on the scourge of social inequity and corruption is clear. Upon arriving in Yaounde, Cameroon last week, Leo met with President Paul Biya, at 93 the world's oldest leader, who has been in power for 44 years and, like Obiang, is accused of presiding over an authoritarian government. Leo said in his arrival speech in the presidential palace: "In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption — which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility — must be broken," and "Hearts must be set free from an idolatrous thirst for profit."
Church Caught Between Mission and Power
Equatorial Guinea is officially a secular country, but the Catholic Church is at the center of its political and social systems, with about 75% of its population Catholic, making it one of the most Catholic countries in Africa. Church leaders "are very much interconnected intrinsically with the government," said Tutu Alicante, a U.S.-based activist who runs the EG Justice rights group. "Part of it is the fear the government has instilled in everyone, including the church, and part of it is the monetary gains that the church derives from this government."
The Rev. Fortunatus Nwachukwu, No. 2 in the Vatican's missionary evangelization office, acknowledged the difficult position. "Should the church go to war against the government? Surely no," Nwatchukwu said. "Should the church swallow everything as if it were normal? No. The church has to continue preaching justice, always in defense of life, human dignity and the common good."
Systemic Oppression Beyond Corruption
In addition to official corruption, the government faces rampant accusations of harassment, arrest and intimidation of political opponents, critics and journalists. It has consistently ranked among the bottom 10 countries in Transparency International's annual corruption perception index, though the government has in recent years taken some steps to improve the situation, said Transparency International's regional advisor for Africa, Samuel Kaninda. He said the government passed an anti-corruption law and is working to fund an anti-corruption commission, but the commission must be truly independent to investigate and the judiciary must be independent as well.
Kaninda said he hoped the pope's visit would draw attention to such shortcomings and give the people of Equatorial Guinea hope. He said, "The risk is there, but at the same time, we see more of the opportunity to shed more light on a lot more that is happening there."
A Packed Schedule of Encounters
Leo has a packed schedule in Equatorial Guinea. He arrives and meets with Obiang and then delivers two sets of remarks: a speech to government authorities and diplomats, and then another speech at the national university. In addition to celebrating Masses, he will visit a psychiatric hospital and a prison and will meet with young people and their families. Before leaving Thursday, he will pray at a memorial to victims of a 2021 blast at a military barracks in Bata that killed more than 100 people in the fifth year since the blast. The explosions were blamed on the negligent handling of dynamite in a barracks close to residential areas.
At the very least, the first papal visit since St. John Paul II came 44 years ago is giving seamstress Tumi Carine lots of business, as she makes dresses with fabric stamped with Leo's image. Carine said, "The coming of the pope brought us many customers," and "We are really grateful for the coming of the pope, so, we are really happy."
Why This Matters:
The pope's visit to Equatorial Guinea exposes a fundamental question of economic justice: who benefits when natural resources generate enormous wealth? In a country where oil revenues could lift the entire population out of poverty, the fact that more than half remain impoverished reveals a failure of governance and accountability. The visit highlights how extractive industries without transparent oversight and equitable distribution mechanisms can deepen rather than alleviate inequality. For advocates of stronger institutions and democratic accountability, the pope's willingness to speak truth to power in both Cameroon and potentially Equatorial Guinea demonstrates the essential role of moral leadership in challenging systems that concentrate wealth and power. The visit also underscores the tension facing civil society institutions, including religious organizations, operating under authoritarian regimes: how to maintain their mission of serving the vulnerable while navigating government pressure and co-optation. The international attention generated by the papal visit creates space for human rights advocates and transparency organizations to press for meaningful reforms, including truly independent anti-corruption bodies and judicial systems capable of holding powerful interests accountable.