Pontiff said the Church\u2019s social doctrine offers guidance for confronting inequality, resource exploitation, war, and technological upheaval.MALABO, Equatorial Guinea \u2014 Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday warned against invoking God to justify oppression and violence, telling civil authorities and diplomats in Equatorial Guinea that \u201chis holy name must not be profaned by the will to dominate, by arrogance, or by discrimination; above all, it must never be invoked to justify choices and actions of death.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking at the presidential palace in Malabo on April 21, the pope framed his address around the Church\u2019s social doctrine, calling it a guide for addressing the \u201cnew things\u201d destabilizing human coexistence, including widening inequality, the exploitation of natural resources, and the misuse of technology.<\/p>\n
Leo said the world is facing developments that \u201cshake the very foundations of the human experience\u201d and reiterated that it is \u201cthe imperative duty of civil authorities and of sound politics to dismantle the obstacles to integral human development \u2014 a mission grounded in the fundamental principles of solidarity and the universal destination of goods.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pope pointed to rapid technological development as one factor worsening global imbalances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt cannot be ignored, for example, that the rapid technological evolution we are witnessing has accelerated speculation regarding raw materials,\u201d he said. \u201cThis shift seemingly overshadows fundamental imperatives such as the safeguarding of creation, the rights of local communities, the dignity of labor, and the protection of public health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV meets with Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the presidential palace in Malabo on April 21, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media<\/p>\n
Recalling Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his death, Leo repeated his predecessor\u2019s condemnation of unjust economic systems, saying: \u201cToday we also have to say \u2018thou shalt not\u2019 to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that armed conflicts are increasingly tied to the exploitation of oil and mineral reserves.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, it is even more evident today than in years past that the proliferation of armed conflicts is often driven by the exploitation of oil and mineral deposits, occurring with no regard for international law or the self-determination of peoples,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Leo also warned that new technologies are often developed and deployed chiefly for military purposes rather than for the common good.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the contrary, the destiny of humanity risks being tragically compromised without a change of direction in the assumption of political responsibility and without respect for institutions and international agreements,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The pope arrived in Malabo to a festive welcome from crowds lining the streets of the capital. He later held a private meeting of about 30 minutes with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has led the country since 1979 and also received St. John Paul II during his 1982 visit.<\/p>\n
In his address, Leo recalled that John Paul II had described the president as \u201cthe symbolic center to which the living aspirations of a people converge\u201d for liberty, justice, and respect for rights \u2014 words Leo said \u201cremain timely and that challenge anyone entrusted with public responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pope also reflected on St. Augustine\u2019s image of the \u201ccity of God\u201d and the \u201cearthly city,\u201d noting that every person shows by daily decisions to which city he or she belongs.<\/p>\n
Referencing Equatorial Guinea\u2019s planned new capital, Ciudad de la Paz, Leo said its name \u201cseems to echo the biblical city of Jerusalem\u201d and should prompt each person to ask \u201cwhich city they wish to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said Christians are called to live in the earthly city while keeping their hearts fixed on their true homeland, the heavenly city, and urged freedom from \u201cthe pursuit of unjust wealth and the illusion of dominion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV receives gifts during his meeting with Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the presidential palace in Malabo on April 21, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media<\/p>\n
Leo presented the Church\u2019s social doctrine as a resource not only for Catholics but also for all seeking to respond to modern upheavals while putting \u201cthe kingdom of God and his justice\u201d first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a fundamental dimension of the Church\u2019s mission: to contribute to the formation of consciences through the proclamation of the Gospel, the provision of moral criteria, and authentic ethical principles \u2014 all while respecting individual freedom and the autonomy of nations and their governments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Calling Equatorial Guinea \u201ca young country,\u201d Leo said the Church stands ready to help form \u201cfree and responsible consciences\u201d to build a just future.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a world wounded by arrogance, people hunger and thirst for justice,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is necessary to encourage those who believe in peace and to dare to engage in \u2018countercurrent\u2019 politics \u2014 those which place the common good at their very center.\u201d<\/p>\n
He concluded with an appeal for youth formation and moral courage: \u201cWhat is urgently needed is the courage of new visions and an educational pact that gives young people space and trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us walk together, with wisdom and hope, towards the city of God, which is the city of peace,\u201d the pope said.<\/p>\n
In remarks welcoming the pope, Obiang noted that the visit comes during the 170th anniversary of evangelization in Equatorial Guinea, where he said about 90% of the population is Catholic, making it \u201ca favorable enclave for Christianity in central Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Follow the Live Updates of Pope Leo\u2019s Trip in Africa available at\u00a0EWTN News.<\/p>\n
Marco Mancini contributed to this article. This story\u00a0was first published\u00a0by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.<\/p>\n