At approximately 17.35 (local time), Pope Leo XIV was welcomed at the entrance of the hospital by the director and deputy director of the structure, and together they proceeded to the main courtyard, where the patients and staff of the hospital were present.

After a welcome song and dance, followed by some words of welcome from the director of the hospital, the testimony of a patient and the reading of a poem by a former patient, the Holy Father delivered his greeting.

At the end, after imparting his blessing to those present, the Pope visited the exhibition of works created by the patients, before transferring by car, at approximately 18.10 (local time), to the archbishopric for the private meeting with the bishops of Equatorial Guinea, followed by a private dinner with them.

The following is the greeting addressed by the Holy Father to those present during the visit:

Greeting of the Holy Father

Mr Director General,
Distinguished authorities,
Dear brothers and sisters,

I am deeply grateful for your welcome and hospitality, as well as for your singing and dancing. Thank you very much!

Whenever I visit a hospital, a home or a residence for people who may have various illnesses or challenges, I have mixed feelings: on the one hand, I feel the pain or sadness of those people who are suffering; many times they are in a great deal of pain. Sometimes their wounds are visible, and sometimes they have wounds that no one sees, but that they know they carry in their heart and in their life. I feel sorrow for the families who often do not know how to accompany and help the patient. 

However, I admire and am comforted by all that is done there each day to serve human life. I feel the same way here; but today, I find — and I hope the same is true for you — that joy and hope prevail. It is the joy of meeting in the name of the Lord, the joy and hope of knowing that we are caring for those who are in poor health.

I was moved by some of the words that I have heard just now.

The Director said: “A truly great society is not one that hides its weaknesses, but one that surrounds them with love.” Yes, that is true. This is a principle of a civilization with Christian roots, for in the course of human history Christ came to redeem and restore to full dignity those who suffer from the stigma of disability. However, the Savior does not wish to, nor can he, save us without our cooperation, both on a personal and a social level. Therefore, he asks us to love our brothers and sisters not just in words, but also in deeds. A facility such as this, with God’s help and everyone’s commitment, can become a sign of the civilization of love.

Mr Pedro Celestino chose to conclude with a touching remark: “Thank you for loving us just as we are.” I say, thank you for your witness! Thank you to all of you for being here bearing witness, which is a sign that here, in this place, there is genuine love. 

God loves us just as we are. In reality, only God completely loves us as we are, but he does not intend for us to stay that way! No, God does not want us to always be sick and in pain; he wants us to be healthy! God wants to heal us. God wants to grant us this grace to help us heal the wounds that we carry.

This is seen in the Gospel time and again. Jesus came to love us just as we are, yet he does not want us to stay that way, but rather to care for us! A hospital, especially one with a Christian mission, is a place where a person is welcomed just as they are and respected in their frailty, so that they can be helped to get better according to a holistic vision. This spiritual dimension is essential and I was very pleased that the Director emphasized this point.

Finally, thank you to Mr Tarcisio for his poem! I would like to say that in an environment such as this, many hidden “poems” are composed every day, perhaps not with words, but with small gestures, with thoughtfulness and kindness in your relationships with one another. It is a poem that only God can fully read and which consoles the merciful Heart of Christ.

Dear friends, please convey my closeness to all of the sick in the hospital, especially those who are most seriously ill and most alone. To each of you — patients, healthcare workers and staff — I cordially impart my blessing, entrusting you to the protection of Mary, Health of the Sick. Thank you very much.