Pope in Equatorial Guinea: Moral authority role risks being 'whitewashed & used to legitimise power'

François Picard is pleased to welcome Tutu Alicante, international human rights lawyer.and anti-corruption advocate. According to Mr. Alicante, the visit of the Pope to Equatorial Guinea presents a paradox: it offers a rare opportunity to spotlight injustice, yet risks being appropriated by the regime for its own validation. Could the moral authority on the world stage inadvertently lend credence to the authoritarian regime? In Equatorial Guinea, natural resources have failed to lift up society and translate into human dignity, and governance remains defined by exclusion, repression, and the erosion of accountability. The key question is not the symbolism of the visit, but whether it catalyses meaningful change, whether it amplifies the call for justice, transparency, and human rights, or merely reinforces the status quo. Ultimately, he argues that the responsibility lies not only with global actors like the Vatican, but also with media, civil society, and citizens, to ensure that the message of reform prevails over the spectacle of power. He highlights "it's not often that you get a pope that can come to your country and speak in your language" and references Nelson Mandela: "When someone speaks to you in a foreign language, it speaks to your head. When they speak in your language, it speaks to your heart."