Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Equatorial Guinea for the final leg of his apostolic journey across the African continent.
He was received at the country’s main airport in the capital, Malabo, and is currently holding a meeting with government authorities, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Adoring crowds lined the road from the airport into the city, cheering the pontiff—marking the first papal visit since St. John Paul II’s historic trip in 1982.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the world’s longest-serving head of state, has led Equatorial Guinea since August 3, 1979, when a coup overthrew his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema.
Under his leadership, the country has grown into a significant oil-producing nation.
This visit marks the final stop of the Pope’s African tour, which began on April 13 and has included Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola. The apostolic journey is set to conclude on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
By Newsroom
21st April 2026
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