It is the first and also the only time that Pope Leo XIV visited a prison during his 2026 Apostolic Journey through northern and central Africa. Known as Bata Prison, this penitentiary in Equatorial Guinea houses 650 inmates.
During the papal visit, the inmates welcomed the pope with dancing and song, reflecting an atmosphere of joy seemingly at odds with the setting as well as the prison’s reputation, which for years has been considered one of the harshest prisons in the country.
The Pope then shared these words with all those present:
POPE LEO XIV
You are not alone. Your families love you and are waiting for you, and many, beyond these walls, pray for you. And even if some may fear being abandoned by everyone, God will never abandon you, and the Church will stand by your side.
Referring to the rain that came down heavily during the meeting, the pope told those present that “in some places it is a blessing from God." He then offered them a message of encouragement, praying for them not to lose hope in the face of failures:
POPE LEO XIV
Life is not defined only by the mistakes made, which are generally the result of difficult and complex circumstances; because it is always possible to rise again, to learn, and to become a new person.
Before he departed, there was an exchange of gifts in which Pope Leo gave the prisoners a large statue of Saint Francis of Assisi.
