Endless shouts of joy and jubilant energy from the massive gathering of faithful—this was the arrival of Pope Leo XIV to the Bata Stadium for his meeting with young people and families.
The gathering was truly a celebration. Five ethnic groups of Equatorial Guinea performed traditional dances and each offered a unique gift.
Several young people also shared their personal testimonies with the pope, speaking about the hardships of their work and family situations.
PURIFICACIÓN AND JAIME
For a long time, taking the step toward the sacrament of marriage has not been easy for us—not only because of economic difficulties, but also due to judgments, prejudices, and sociocultural stereotypes that portrayed it as an outdated or unrealistic option.
VICTOR ANTONIO NGUEMA
I am 13 years old. I grew up watching my young mother alone, because my father left us when I was very small. At first it was very difficult; I felt very sad and afraid.
There are thousands of children like us who suffer this in silence, in our families, where our mothers are also fathers, and our grandmothers our greatest protection.
And this is how the Pope began his speech—spontaneously, referring to the great enthusiasm of those present despite the heavy rain that was falling:
POPE LEO XIV
Who is afraid of the rain?
Who wants the blessing of God?
Thank you for being here—let’s keep celebrating, the Church needs the enthusiasm of all of you!
In the penultimate public event of the trip, the Pope allowed himself to be moved by the festive atmosphere of the stadium and the intensity of the encounter with the youthful attendees.
POPE LEO XIV
The brightest light here is that of your eyes, your faces—the smiles, the songs, the dances—in which everything bears witness that Christ is joy, meaning, inspiration, and beauty for our lives.
Several candles were lit in the stadium as Pope Leo XIV imparted his blessing to the faithful in attendance before leaving the venue for the airport. After this meeting, he traveled to Malabo, the final destination of his long journey.
