Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace During Cameroon Visit
- Pope Leo XIV condemned those he described as a handful of tyrants ravaging the Earth through war and exploitation during a visit to Bamenda, Cameroon, on April 16,...
- The visit to Bamenda occurred on the fourth day of a 11-day pastoral journey to Africa.
- While in Bamenda, Pope Leo XIV presided over a meeting for peace at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral, which is situated on land donated by the Mankon.
Pope Leo XIV condemned those he described as a handful of tyrants
ravaging the Earth through war and exploitation during a visit to Bamenda, Cameroon, on April 16, 2026. The Pope delivered a message of peace in the western city, which serves as the epicenter of a separatist conflict that humanitarian organizations have characterized as one of the most neglected crises in the world.
The visit to Bamenda occurred on the fourth day of a 11-day pastoral journey to Africa. Upon his arrival in the city, Pope Leo XIV was met by jubilant crowds that clogged the roads, dancing and blowing horns. Reporting from the Associated Press indicates that the local population was overjoyed by the papal visit, viewing it as a means to bring global attention to the violence that has traumatized the region for nearly a decade.
Interfaith Peace Initiatives
While in Bamenda, Pope Leo XIV presided over a meeting for peace at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral, which is situated on land donated by the Mankon. The Pope was accompanied by the Archbishop of Bamenda, Andrew Nkea Fuanya.
The peace meeting was designed to highlight a broader interfaith movement dedicated to ending the separatist conflict and providing care for its victims. The meeting included several key religious and traditional figures, including:
- A Mankon traditional chief
- A Presbyterian moderator
- An imam
- A Catholic nun
During his remarks at the cathedral, Pope Leo XIV praised the efforts of the peace movement but issued a stern warning against the intersection of religion and violent conflict.
Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.
Pope Leo XIV
The Pope noted that this theme has been a recurring point of emphasis in his recent addresses, particularly in relation to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and the religious justifications provided by U.S. Officials for that conflict.
Pope Leo XIV called for a decisive change of course
to move away from conflict and the exploitation of both the people and the land for economic or military advantage.
Earlier Activities in Yaounde
The visit to Bamenda followed a series of engagements in the capital city of Yaounde on April 15, 2026, which marked the third day of the apostolic journey. In Yaounde, Pope Leo XIV met with the diplomatic corps, civil society, and government authorities. He was flanked during these meetings by Cameroon’s President Paul Biya and the First Lady, Chantal Biya.
Also on April 15, 2026, the Pope visited the Ngul Zamba (Power of God) orphanage. During this visit, he watched children perform a dance and waved to supporters as he departed the facility.
The ongoing 11-day visit to Africa continues to focus on messages of peace and the condemnation of exploitation and war, as the Pope travels through regions affected by instability and poverty.