During his visit to Equatorial Guinea, Pope Leo XIV delivered a speech that captured attention far beyond diplomatic circles. Before the civil and religious authorities gathered in Malabo, the successor of Peter did not merely give a ceremonial address. He offered a profound theological reflection on the challenges of our time—a reflection that challenges every Christian and every person of good will.
What strikes immediately is the prophetic vigor of his words. By stating that "God does not want this," the pope is not targeting a specific situation but a mindset that infects our societies: the will to dominate, arrogance, and discrimination. These words echo the biblical prophets, who constantly reminded us that God's name cannot be used to justify oppression.
Far from being limited to an African context, this message has universal reach. It speaks to all those who, in their personal or collective lives, are tempted by the logic of power and exclusion.
The Augustinian Distinction: A Key to Understanding Our Times
To give depth to his argument, the pope drew on the thought of Saint Augustine of Hippo. The distinction between the City of God and the earthly city is not mere theological speculation. It is a lens through which to discern the forces at work in human history. The City of God is founded on love for God, while the earthly city is marked by self-love. This tension runs through every society, every political project, every personal ambition.
Leo XIV thus invites us to examine our choices in light of this fundamental alternative. Do they serve the common good or feed a logic of domination? The new capital of Equatorial Guinea, Ciudad de la Paz, becomes a symbol. It poses a question to every conscience: what city do we want to build? What society are we leaving to future generations?
This reflection echoes the teaching of the Apostle Paul, who urges us not to conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2, NIV).
Exclusion: The New Face of Social Injustice
The pope also highlighted a troubling phenomenon: exclusion has become the modern form of social injustice. In a world where technology advances at breakneck speed, where artificial intelligence and globalized markets transform our lives, social divides are widening. The most vulnerable risk being pushed to the margins, reduced to mere variables in a system that prioritizes efficiency and profit.
This diagnosis echoes the Church's tradition, from Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Rerum Novarum to the teachings of Francis. Technical progress, if not directed toward the common good, can become an instrument of oppression. Pope Leo XIV reminds us that technology must serve humanity, not the other way around.
The Bible warns against amassing wealth that ignores the needs of others. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says: "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions" (Luke 12:15, NIV).
A Call to Build a Civilization of Love
Faced with these realities, the pope does not merely denounce. He proposes a path: that of the civilization of love. This phrase, dear to Pope Paul VI, describes a society where relationships are based on justice, solidarity, and mercy. Leo XIV invites us to be peacemakers, to build bridges where there are walls, and to promote a culture of encounter.
Concretely, this means rethinking n
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