By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday visited one of Equatorial Guinea’s notorious prisons where he told the inmates that they are not alone, as he delivered a message of hope during the visit that drew attention to deplorable conditions of detention facilities, human rights abuses and injustices.
Leo’s visit to the prison in the Central African port city of Bata followed in the tradition of Pope Francis, who frequently met with inmates on his foreign visits to give them a message of hope.
But Leo’s stop, at the end of his four-nation African tour, took on added significance after it emerged that Equatorial Guinea was one of several African nations that have been paid millions of dollars in controversial deals with the Trump administration to receive migrants deported from the U.S. to countries other than their own.
While none of those migrants are being held at Bata, the visit put the spotlight on Equatorial Guinea’s overall human rights record and its judiciary, which rights campaigners have criticized for its lack of independence, arbitrary detentions and other abuses.
“You are not alone. Your families love you and are waiting for you. Many people outside these walls are praying for you,” Leo told the inmates in Spanish. “If any of you fear being abandoned by everyone, know that God will never abandon you, and that the Church will stand by your side.”
The inmates, all dressed in new neon orange and beige uniforms, had gathered in a central courtyard of the prison, which appeared to have been recently painted salmon pink.
As soon as he started speaking, a huge rainstorm opened, drenching the inmates.
In his remarks, Leo also reminded authorities that justice is meant to protect society, but that incarceration is not meant to be punishment alone.
“To be effective, it must always promote the dignity and potential of every person,” he said.
“True justice seeks not so much to punish as to help rebuild the lives of victims, offenders and communities wounded by evil.”
After Leo’s departure, the drenched inmates broke into a dance party in the courtyard as the rain continued to pour, shouting “Libertad! Libertad! Libertad!” (Freedom, freedom, freedom).
