Post by : Badri Ariffin

During his visit to Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV called for an emphasis on justice and the bridging of the economic divide between the wealthy and the impoverished. He underscored the urgent need for reform in human rights and equality.

The Pope initiated his day by celebrating Mass in Mongomo, an eastern city close to the Gabonese border. This area has seen significant growth since the oil boom of the 1990s and is notably the birth town of long-time President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

Attending the Mass were President Obiang, accompanied by his family, including Vice President Teodoro “Teddy” Nguema Obiang, who has been embroiled in international corruption scrutiny, as highlighted by a French court ruling involving embezzlement that led to a suspended sentence and fines.

The Vatican reported a turnout of about 100,000 congregants for the Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, which is modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Before the service, Pope Leo also greeted the presidential family and laid the foundation stone for a future cathedral in Ciudad de la Paz (City of Peace).

In his homily, the Pope urged both leaders and citizens to cultivate a society that defends human dignity, fosters freedom, and prioritizes the collective welfare over personal gain. He also emphasized the necessity of bridging the gap between the affluent and the disadvantaged.

Later, Pope Leo planned to visit a prison in Bata, maintaining his tradition of reaching out to inmates to advocate for justice and address systemic issues.

Equatorial Guinea’s justice system has drawn criticism internationally from the UN, Amnesty International, and the U.S. for issues like arbitrary detentions, torture, political imprisonments, and inadequate prison facilities. Concerns surrounding the lack of judicial independence and unfair trial procedures have also surfaced.

Furthermore, reports have implicated the nation in controversial migration agreements involving deportations from the U.S., with rights groups cautioning against potential legal and humanitarian transgressions.

In the lead-up to the Pope's arrival, authorities released nearly 100 individuals detained during a crackdown on protests in 2022, although several political activists and detainees remain behind bars according to various human rights entities.

Organizations like EG Justice and Amnesty International have called on Pope Leo XIV to use this opportunity to advocate against human rights violations and to back judicial reforms in Equatorial Guinea.

#world news #Global News #World Update #Pope Leo XIV