(OSV News) -- Pope Leo XIV told inmates at a correctional facility in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, April 22 that "no one is excluded from God's love" and "God never grows tired of forgiving."
"Each of us, with our unique stories, mistakes and sufferings, remains precious in the Lord's eyes," he said to the incarcerated men and women gathered. "We can say this with certainty, because Jesus revealed it to us in every encounter, every gesture and every word."
Pope Leo's visit to Bata Prison, located in the Central African country's largest coastal city, was on the 10th and final full day of his 11-day apostolic visit to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. The government-funded prison currently houses 38 women and 613 men.
The inmates, clad in orange and tan scrubs, met Pope Leo's arrival with joyful dancing and singing, waving flags representing their country, the Vatican and the papal visit. Three incarcerated men shared testimonies, with one telling Pope Leo they would like to be instruments of peace, and asking for his prayers to help them move forward. The inmates then performed an emotional song and dance.
Speaking in Spanish, Pope Leo told them that while in Equatorial Guinea, he has experienced "a land rich in cultures, languages and traditions."
"Your families, communities and faith are a great source of strength for this nation," he said. "You, too, are also part of this country."
Speaking to their incarceration, he said, "The administration of justice aims to protect society. To be effective, however, it must always promote the dignity and potential of every person. True justice seeks not so much to punish as to help rebuild the lives of victims, offenders and communities wounded by evil. There is no justice without reconciliation."
"This is an immense undertaking," he continued. "Part of it can happen within prisons, but the greater part must involve the entire national community, in order to prevent and heal the wounds caused by injustice."
He encouraged the men and women not to experience prison as a "lonely and desolate place," but as a "space for reflection, reconciliation and personal growth." He told them that their families love and wait for them, and that God will not abandon them.
"Life is not defined solely by one's mistakes, which are often the result of difficult and complex circumstances," he said. "There is always the possibility to start over, learn and become a new person. … Always remember that a person who gets back up after falling is stronger than before."
Prior to visiting the prison, Pope Leo began the day with Mass and visited a technology school named for Pope Francis in Mongomo, near Equatorial Guinea's eastern border with Gabon, before flying across the country to Bata, the country's largest coastal city. There he stopped at the cathedral and prayed at a memorial honoring victims of a 2021 explosion that killed more than 100 people, before an evening event at Bata Stadium with families and young people.
In heat and heavy rain, the crowd met Pope Leo with cheers, songs and chants, with flags and apparel featuring the logos of his apostolic visit. The meeting included dance performances and presentations of symbols of Equatorial Guinea's culture, with about 50,000 people in and around the stadium.
In his address, Pope Leo encouraged the faithful to "be inspired by the beauty of love."
"Let us become witnesses to the love that Jesus has given us and taught us! Let us show every day that it is beautiful to love -- that the greatest joys, in every situation, come from knowing how to give and from giving of ourselves, especially when we reach out to those most in need," he said.
Pope Leo affirmed the testimonies of local Catholics -- a young woman and man, a seminarian and a married couple -- who had spoken to Pope Leo and the crowd about the joys and challenges of their vocations.
Roughly 75% of Equatorial Guinea's population of about 1.6 million is Catholic, making it one of Africa's most Catholic countries. The visit marks only the second papal trip to the nation, following St. John Paul II's visit more than four decades ago. The papal visit coincides with the 170th anniversary of evangelization in the country.
Pope Leo is scheduled to return to Rome April 23 following Mass in Malabo, the country's former island-based capital, with an expected attendance of 20,000 people.
"Let us show every day that it is beautiful to love -- that the greatest joys, in every situation, come from knowing how to give and from giving of ourselves, especially when we reach out to those most in need," he said at Bata Stadium. "The light of charity, nurtured in our homes and lived out in faith, can truly transform the world -- even its structures and institutions -- so that every person is respected and no one is forgotten."
