On Arrival in Equatorial Guinea (18 February 1982)

On Thursday, 18 February 1982, the Holy Father arrived in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, where he gave the following speech.

Dear brothers and sisters.

It is a source of profound joy for me to arrive in this nation and on the island which is home to its capital, Malabo, during my apostolic journey through these African lands. First of all, I thank God who allowed me to come this far.

I would then like to express my gratitude to the President of the Republic who wanted to be present at this airport to pay me his welcome.

While waiting for the personal meeting that we will have shortly, I would like to assure you that I deeply appreciated this gesture, in which the high hierarchies of the State were kindly associated, to whom I also express the testimony of my profound gratitude.

I was particularly pleased with the presence of your beloved Pastor, Monsignor Rafael María Nzé Abuy. To him and to all of you I extend my cordial greeting: the peace of Christ be always with you.

My stay in this city cannot be as long as I would have liked; but my presence here could not be missing, to meet with all of you, dear brothers and sisters of this beautiful island, who have come to see me. And since many of you would not have been able to travel further to reach me, it was I who came to meet you with this visit, in which I also include all the inhabitants of the neighboring islands that are part of your country.

My stop in Malabo and the subsequent one in Bata are proof of my profound affection for you and for all the children of Equatorial Guinea, of the islands, of the continent and of those who live outside, and also proof of the memory that accompanies us on many occasions , and that prayer is made for your intentions and needs.

My journey has an exclusively evangelizing purpose: I come to confirm your faith as Christians and to encourage you in your faithfulness to Christ and the Church.

I know well that in the past you have sometimes had to endure serious difficulties. For this reason I express to you my joy at the constancy with which you have given testimony to your adherence to Christ, as children of the common Father who loves us all in the same way and accompanies us in every moment of our existence, giving us the strength to confess it even with martyrdom.

As a reminder, then, of my visit, I leave you the very words with which the apostle Saint Paul exhorted the Christians of his time: "Walk therefore in the Lord Jesus Christ, as you have received him, rooted and grounded in him, steadfast in the faith" (Col 2,6f). And since in your geographical context you are a largely Catholic nation, always give an example of harmony among yourselves, of mutual love, of capacity for reconciliation, of effective respect for the rights of every citizen, of every family, of every social group. Respect and promote the dignity of all people in your country, as human beings and as children of God.

May he always help you on this journey and may the most holy Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, accompany you on the path of progress in faith and in the practice of Christian life, in a climate of peace, of private and social honesty, of growing well being. Striving on your part to collaborate, as loyal citizens, in building the serene, prosperous and just homeland that we unanimously desire.

With these wishes, I embrace you all in the love of Christ, and to everyone - particularly to priests, men and women religious, catechists, lay people engaged in ecclesial work and in a very special way to children and the sick - I impart my cordial blessing.

Copyright © Dicastery for Communication - Libreria Editrice Vaticana