Pope Leo concludes Africa trip with Mass in Malabo, calls continent a ‘treasure of faith’

Pope Leo XIV concluded his 11-day apostolic journey across Africa on April 23 with a large outdoor Mass in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, followed by a farewell address highlighting the continent’s deep faith and growing missionary role in the global Church.

The Mass, celebrated at the Malabo stadium, drew a crowd of about 30,000 faithful. Pope Leo centered his homily on the transformative power of Scripture and the universality of salvation, drawing from the account of the Ethiopian eunuch in the Acts of the Apostles, when the deacon Philip explains Scripture and proclaims Christ to the eunuch.

Pope Leo pointed to the eunuch as a figure of spiritual longing — materially wealthy but lacking true freedom — and emphasized how an encounter with Christ changes that reality. With Philip’s guidance, the eunuch moves from simply reading Scripture to fully living it, ultimately finding new life through Baptism in Acts 8.

“Let us reflect on this man: he is wealthy, like his land, yet he is a slave. The wealth he administers is not his own: all he has is his labor, which benefits others,” the Holy Father said. “He is intelligent and cultured, as shown in both his work and prayer, but he is not fully free. This painful reality is marked even on his body: he is, in fact, a eunuch. He cannot bring forth life; all his vitality is placed at the service of a power that controls and rules over him.”

And still, Pope Leo said, “the proclamation of the Gospel sets him free. The Word of God that he holds in his hands bears unexpected fruit in his life.” 

The Pontiff stressed that Scripture and salvation history embrace every man and woman, especially the “marginalized and the least among us.” Scripture is not merely read but lived, transforming those who encounter it into members of God’s family through Baptism, he said.

Like the eunuch, Pope Leo noted, “we too have become Christians through Baptism, receiving the same light, that is, the same faith through which we read the Word of God: to reflect on the prophecies, to pray the psalms, to study the Law and to proclaim the Gospel through our lives.”

He also highlighted the need for guidance in understanding God’s word, noting that faith often grows through accompaniment and witness.

Turning to the Gospel reading — John’s Bread of Life Discourse — Pope Leo emphasized the importance of the Holy Eucharist as the fulfillment of God’s promise and the source of eternal life. In the Gospel, Christ reminded his followers that God provided the Israelites with manna during their 40-year journey through the desert.

The manna is “a sign, a blessing, and a promise that Jesus comes to fulfill,” Pope Leo said. “This ancient symbol now gives way to the sacrament of the new and eternal Covenant: the Eucharist — bread consecrated by the one who came down from heaven to become our nourishment. If those who ate the manna died (cf. Jn 6:49), whoever eats this bread will live forever (cf. v. 51), because Christ is alive!”

Calling on Catholics in Equatorial Guinea to continue the mission of evangelization, Pope Leo urged them to proclaim the Gospel with conviction and joy, both in word and in action. He emphasized that evangelization flows from Baptism and becomes visible through service, forgiveness, and daily witness.

Referencing Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium, he also warned against spiritual complacency and self-centeredness, which he said can dull faith and diminish concern for others. He encouraged the faithful to “carry on the mission of Jesus’ first disciples with joy.”

“As you read the Gospel together, proclaim it with passion, just as the deacon Philip did,” Pope Leo said. “And as you celebrate the Eucharist together, bear witness through your lives to the faith that saves, so that God’s word may become good leaven for all.”

Addressing the faithful with a farewell address at the end of Mass, Pope Leo thanked Church leaders, civil authorities, and the faithful across Africa for their welcome during the visit, and said the trip had left a lasting mark on him.

“I leave Africa with an immeasurable treasure of faith, hope, and charity,” the Holy Father said, “a great treasure consisting of stories, faces, and testimonies, both joyful and sorrowful, which will greatly enrich my life and ministry as the Successor of Peter.”

Pope Leo departed Malabo around 2 p.m. local time, greeting officials before boarding his return flight to Rome, where he is expected to arrive later in the evening. The Pope’s apostolic journey began April 13. He visited Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, where he spoke about peace, reflected on each nation’s history, and encouraged both citizens and leaders to pursue justice and evangelization.

>> Pope Leo in Equatorial Guinea: Eucharist is ‘source and summit’ of Church’s life and mission <<