Pope Francis in Africa: Prison Visit, Joyful Church, and the Night That Changed Everything

Pope Leo XIV’s African journey reaches Equatorial Guinea with historic visit to Malabo On April 22, 2026, Pope Leo XIV continued his 10-day apostolic journey through Africa, arriving in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, after earlier stops in Algeria, Cameroon and Angola. The pontiff’s visit to this Central African nation marked a significant moment in his first continental trip as pope. At 7:45 a.m. Local time, Pope Leo XIV departed by car for Malabo International Airport, where he bid farewell to local leaders before boarding a Boeing 777-200 at 8:10 a.m. The flight to Mongomo lasted approximately one hour, with arrival at 9:10 a.m. Local time. Upon landing, the Pope was welcomed by local authorities and transferred by car to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, completing the final leg of the journey in an open-top vehicle. At 10:30 a.m., after touring among the faithful in the popemobile, Pope Leo XIV presided over Holy Mass on the Wednesday of the third week of Easter. Following the introductory rites and liturgy of the Word, the Pope delivered his homily. After the Eucharistic celebration, Bishop Juan Domingo-Beka Esono Ayang of Mongomo expressed gratitude to the Holy Father. The Pope then blessed the first stone of the Cathedral of Ciudad de la Paz before proceeding on foot to the “Papa Francesco” Formation Centre. At 12:30 p.m. Local time, Pope Leo XIV arrived at the “Papa Francesco” Formation Centre to visit the Escuela Tecnologica. He was greeted by Bishop Juan Domingo-Beka Esono Ayang and the diocesan secretary chancellor. After a brief welcome from the bishop, the Pontiff unveiled a commemorative plaque at the entrance and blessed the facility. This visit forms part of Pope Leo XIV’s broader African tour, which began on April 13, 2026, and includes stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. As the first Augustinian pope, his journey holds particular significance given the historical presence of his order in the region and the continent’s growing Catholic population, which represents 20.3 percent of the global total according to Vatican Yearbook 2024 data. The trip underscores the Vatican’s continued engagement with Africa, where the Catholic Church is experiencing faster growth than anywhere else in the world. Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Equatorial Guinea highlights the Church’s commitment to supporting local communities through educational and spiritual initiatives, as demonstrated by his interaction with the Escuela Tecnologica and associated formation centre.