Preparations for the apostolic visit of Leo XIV to Equatorial Guinea, scheduled from April 21 to 23, have entered their final phase. The trip, which will be the Pope’s first to the African continent, will include a large delegation from the Holy See, among them several cardinals such as Robert Sarah, and will have as its main settings Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata.
A significant presence in the papal entourage
According to EWTN News, among the Pope’s companions are the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, along with other relevant figures from the Roman Curia. Among them, the presence of Cardinal Sarah, emeritus prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, stands out.
This delegation is joined by officials from various dicasteries and the team in charge of papal trips. In addition, the participation of more than 40 bishops from central African countries is planned, which reinforces the regional character of the meeting and makes it a reference for the Church on the continent.
Cardinal Sarah in the African context
Former archbishop of Conakry in Guinea, Cardinal Robert Sarah developed much of his ministry in a context of strong political pressure on the Church during the dictatorship of Sékou Touré. Appointed at just 34 years old, he had to sustain ecclesial life in a situation of persecution and state control, which decisively shaped his pastoral profile.
That experience, forged in a minority Church subjected to constant tensions, explains to a great extent his subsequent trajectory. Already in Rome, where he held relevant responsibilities in the Curia, he always maintains a recognizable voice, especially on issues such as liturgy, spiritual life, and the defense of Christian identity.
Read also: Sarah denounces the drift of the Church: «It is not an NGO, it has forgotten its mission»
Far from diluting his bond with Africa, his international projection has consolidated him as a reference figure for many bishops and faithful on the continent, at a time when the African Church is gaining weight within the universal Church as a whole.
A program centered on Church life
In coherence with this approach, the planned itinerary combines institutional encounters with a clearly pastoral agenda. The Pope will be received in Malabo, where he will hold meetings with authorities and representatives of society, but he will also visit the sick, young people, and families.
Subsequently, in Mongomo, he will celebrate the Eucharist in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, before moving to Bata, where he will visit a prison and participate in acts in memory of the victims of the 2021 explosion.
A first step in Africa
The visit will conclude in Malabo with a final Mass before returning to Rome. In this way, the trip not only marks Leo XIV’s first direct contact with the African Church, but also points to the relevance that the continent may have in his pontificate.