Overview
- Pope Leo, who visited Bata prison Wednesday, told inmates “You are not alone” and urged a justice system that restores dignity.
- At a Mass in Mongomo with President Teodoro Obiang present, he called for greater freedom and for leaders to bridge the gap between the privileged and the poor, with the Vatican estimating a crowd of about 100,000.
- On the eve of the prison visit, 70 rights groups urged him to denounce U.S. deportation deals that sent at least 29 third‑country migrants with no ties to Equatorial Guinea to the country, warning of detention and forced returns.
- U.S. and NGO reports detail torture, arbitrary arrests and life‑threatening prison conditions in Equatorial Guinea, which the pope echoed by pressing for humane treatment, study and work opportunities for detainees.
- In the run‑up to the visit, the government released nearly 100 people held after a 2022 crackdown, though activists and a local lawyer said prominent political detainees remain behind bars.