BATA, Equatorial Guinea — Pope Leo XIV visited a prison Tuesday afternoon, telling inmates that “no one is excluded from God’s love” and urging them to see that even behind bars, there remains the possibility of change, reconciliation, and hope.
The pope arrived in the coastal city of Bata after celebrating Mass earlier in the day in Mongomo.
Before going to the local prison — one of the country’s harshest and long known for difficult detention conditions — Leo stopped at the Cathedral of St. James and Our Lady of Pilar for a brief moment of prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
At the prison, Leo XIV was welcomed by Justice Minister Reginaldo Biyogo Mba Ndong Anguesomo, the prison director, and the chaplain, Father Pergentino Esono Mba, 58, who has worked at the Bata penitentiary for 24 years.
One of the more than 600 inmates thanked the pope for his visit and support.
“We wish to thank you for your visit and your support,” the prisoner said. “Your presence reminds us of the importance of faith and redemption. We ask for your blessing to keep moving forward and to come out of this as better people. We are grateful for your compassion and for your message of hope.”
The chaplain, meanwhile, thanked the pope “for his message of mercy and forgiveness.”
“Your example inspires us to believe in the possibility of change and to trust that, even in darkness, God always opens a door of light and hope,” he said.
Pope Leo began by thanking the inmates for their witness.
“I have listened carefully to your words. Thank you for your sincerity and for showing us that human dignity and hope are never lost, even in the midst of difficulties,” he said.
“Today, I am here to tell you something simple: no one is excluded from God’s love! Each of us, with our unique stories, mistakes, and sufferings, remains precious in the Lord’s eyes.”
He also stressed that justice must be aimed not only at punishment but also at rebuilding lives.
“True justice seeks not so much to punish as to help rebuild the lives of victims, offenders, and communities wounded by evil. There is no justice without reconciliation.”
Hope and change were the central themes of the pope’s address.
“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. Every effort toward reconciliation and every act of kindness can spark hope in others.”
He added: “God never grows tired of forgiving.”
After leaving the prison, the pope, under a torrential downpour, stopped briefly to pray at the memorial honoring the victims of a March 7, 2021, explosion.
That day, a series of four explosions struck a military barracks in the Nkoantoma neighborhood, a district of Bata. At least 107 people were killed and more than 600 were injured, with extensive damage reported across the city.
This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.