With the hum of the papal plane still lingering at the airport following Pope Leo’s departure for Rome, and with the faithful now returning to their homes, workplaces and daily lives - called to proclaim the Gospel with renewed fervor - the Church in Equatorial Guinea is beginning to absorb what is already being described as a historic milestone.

On 23 April, Pope Leo XIV concluded his African journey - which took him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Guinea - leaving behind a message of “profound renewal” that has resonated not only within Church structures, but also deeply within civil society.

In an exclusive interview on Nota Eclesial, alongside Father Johan Pacheco in Rome, Bishop Juan Domingo Beka Esono Ayang, Bishop of Mongomo and President of the Episcopal Conference, shared his reflections on a visit he describes as a “shared blessing”.

For the bishop, the most striking image left by the Pontiff is not merely one of vast, enthusiastic crowds, but rather a direct and personal call to responsibility.

“The Holy Father has called both the Church and Christians engaged in social life to work for the coming of the Kingdom. The future is not something to be awaited passively; it calls for the commitment of each and every one of us.”

During his addresses in Equatorial Guinea, the Pope placed particular emphasis on the dignity of the human person and on the need for a proclamation of the Gospel that goes beyond words, becoming instead a lived witness and fostering a genuine “culture of peace”.

Reconciliation: Unity without uniformity

One of the most pressing themes of the visit was the call for peace in a world marked by tension and division. Bishop Beka stressed that the local Church is deeply engaged in the work of reconciliation, grounded in a clear principle: respect for difference.

“Communion does not mean uniformity,” he explained. “We must recognise the richness of the different cultures and peoples that make up Equatorial Guinea. It is precisely this recognition that leads to true inclusion and prevents exclusion.”

The visit to Bata Prison: Hope at the margins

Among the most moving moments of the journey was the Pope’s visit to the prison in Bata. For Bishop Beka, this gesture carried profound significance:

“If we say that the Holy Father’s visit is a blessing, then that grace must reach every reality of the people - including those in prison - so that hope may be proclaimed, especially to those who might feel discouraged in such places.”

“They are our brothers and sisters, our fellow citizens. For one reason or another, they find themselves there - but this is not their final destiny. They must hold on to hope.”

He also pointed to the inmates’ singing as a powerful sign that “neither the Church nor society has forgotten them”, encouraging those deprived of liberty to seek conversion and prepare to return as citizens committed to building peace.

From ‘welcoming’ to ‘living’

Having recently grown from three to five dioceses, the Church in Equatorial Guinea sees this visit as a catalyst for a renewed phase in its mission. According to Bishop Beka, the path ahead can be summed up in a simple but demanding pastoral call:

“We ask the people to embrace three verbs: prepare, welcome and live. We have prepared and we have welcomed this grace - now we must live it. This visit has the power to transform our relationships.”

As the Church looks ahead to further reflection in order to fully embrace the “great legacy” of Pope Leo XIV, it closes a chapter marked by joy and opens a new one - one shaped by social and spiritual renewal.