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18, April 2026

Douala: The Holy Father challenges wealth distribution amid rampant corruption ⁰

In a half-day visit to the economic capital of Cameroon Friday, Pope Leo offered the local population an extended reflection on the just and equitable distribution of resources in a country notorious for corruption.

In his April 17 homily at Japoma Stadium in Douala, the pope framed his message in the context of the day’s Gospel reading recounting Jesus’s multiplication of the loaves and fish upon discovering there was not enough food to feed the hungry crowd gathered to hear him preach.

Seeing the problem of inadequate resources, he said, “Jesus asks us today, just as he asked his disciples then: How will you solve this problem? Look at all these hungry people, weighed down by fatigue. What will you do?”

“This question is posed to each one of us,” Leo said, saying it applies to families trying to make ends meet, as well as the pastors of the church and to “those who bear social and political responsibility for the people and seek their well-being.”

Every person, strong or weak, rich or poor, has the same hunger, and nourishment is necessary in order to live, he said, asking, “where is God in the face of people’s hunger?”

Jesus offers his own answer to this question when he took the loaves and fish, gave thanks to God, and distributed them among the crowd.

“A serious problem was solved by blessing the little food that was present and sharing it with all who were hungry. The multiplication of the loaves and the fish happened while sharing: that is the miracle,” the pope said, saying, “There is bread for everyone if it is given to everyone.”

There is enough bread for everyone, Pope Leo said, “if it is taken, not with a hand that snatches away, but with a hand that gives.”

He highlighted Jesus’s act of gratitude to God before performing the miracle, saying this is what made the food abundant.

“It was not rationed out of necessity. It was not stolen in strife. It was not wasted by those who gorge themselves in the presence of those who have nothing to eat,” but rather, passing from Jesus, to his disciples, and then to the people, “the food increased for everyone; indeed, it was superabundant.”

When the crowds immediately declaring Jesus to be a prophet, Jesus, Leo said, “did not use those words for personal gain. He did not want to become king, because he had come to serve with love, not to dominate,” but to serve the good of all.

Pope Leo spoke on his third day in Cameroon, which is part of a broader April 13-23 tour of Africa that began in Algeria, and which will also take him to Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

He will celebrate Mass in the capital city of Yaoundé Saturday before flying to the Angolan capital of Luanda.

A consistent appeal

Pope Leo, whose very name and magisterium so far are seeped in issues of social justice, spent over two decades as a missionary in Peru, serving in the country’s most impoverished regions in the north during a massive financial and political crisis, leading to terrorism and widespread social instability.

Throughout the nearly complete first year of his pontificate, Leo has condemned income inequalities and the unjust distribution of wealth, saying in an exclusive interview for this journalist’s biography of his life, Pope Leo XIV: The Biography, set for publication in English later this month, that employers now make around 600 times more than their employees.

In that interview, he questioned extreme wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, noting that last summer Elon Musk was declared the first trillionaire in the world, saying, “What does that mean and what’s that about? And if that is the only thing that has value anymore, then we’re in big trouble. We have to talk about these things.”

Later, in a general audience Dec. 17, he condemned bloated, “out of control” investment portfolios of the extremely wealthy, while vast portions of the global population live in poverty.

“In the heart that true treasure is kept, not in earthly safes, not in large financial investments, which today more than ever before are out of control and unjustly concentrated at the bloody price of millions of human lives and the devastation of God’s creation,” he said on that occasion.

Continuing to drive this point, this time speaking from a continent whose lands are notoriously exploited by foreign powers and extractive industries for resources while their populations live in poverty, indicates this will be a consistent major talking point for the American missionary pontiff.

A message to Cameroon

Pope Leo’s visit to Douala for Mass took him to the economic capital of Cameroon, which is currently afflicted by violent protests and paralysis over President Paul Biya’s disputed re-election last October.

Barricades, looting, and violent clashes with security forces have afflicted the city for the past six months, threatening the national economy and general social stability in a nation already gripped by violence amid the ongoing Anglophone Crisis.

One of central Africa’s largest ports, Douala has been the site of its own spat of violence as authorities resorted to forceful measures to quell protests against Biya’s election, and the population is still reeling.

Some Cameroonians feared the papal visit could lend support to Biya, 93, who has ruled since 1982 and is the world’s oldest head of state. Pope Leo met with Biya privately on his first day in Cameroon.

Cameroon, notorious for corrupt practices such as bribery, embezzlement, and nepotism, is rich in natural resources such as oil, timber, cocoa, coffee and minerals, which for decades have been pillaged by both large foreign firms and local elites.

Some 600,000 people were expected to turn out for the pope’s Mass in Douala; however, the crowds were notably smaller, perhaps due to extreme heat and tight security.

Catholics in Cameroon make up around a third of the population of 30 million, and play a fundamental role in the country’s social life. After Mass, the pope is set to visit Saint Paul’s Catholic hospital before returning to Yaoundé, where he will meet with university students and professors.

Equality as rooted in love

In his homily, symbolically delivered in both French and English, the pope said Jesus’s multiplication of the loaves and fish was done primarily as an act of love for the people, which is why it is seen as a foreshadowing of the Eucharist.

“It shows us not only how God provides humanity with the bread of life, but how we can share this sustenance with all men and women who, like ourselves, hunger for peace, freedom and justice,” he said.

Each act of solidarity and forgiveness and every effort to improve one’s circumstances, he said, “becomes a morsel of bread for humanity in need of care.”

“Yet this alone is not enough,” he said, saying it must also be accompanied by acts of charity that feed the soul, forming the conscience and sustaining people “in dark hours of fear and amid the shadows of suffering.”

In this regard, Leo stressed the importance of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, which he said, “does not merely revive a distant memory; it brings about a ‘companionship’ that transforms us because it sanctifies us.”

The Eucharist, he said, is “a proclamation of hope amid the trials of history and the injustices we see around us.”

“By becoming man to save us, he chose to share in the simplest and most everyday needs of humanity. Hunger thus speaks to us not only of our poverty but, above all, of his love,” he said.

Pope Leo urged attendees to remember this whenever they see someone who lacks life’s basic necessities.

“Through their eyes, the question that Jesus posed to his disciples is repeated: ‘What are you going to do for all these people?’” he said.

He cautioned that being a true witness to Christ and imitating his love for others implies facing certain difficulties and obstacles, “from without and from within us, where pride can corrupt the heart.”

The pope then offered a special message to young people, who make up the majority of the African continent, telling them to be “the first faces and hands that bring the bread of life to your neighbors.”

He told youth to provide others primarily “with the food of wisdom and deliverance from all that does not nourish them but rather obscures good desires and robs them of their dignity.”

In this regard, Leo lamented that despite Cameroon’s wealth of natural resources, “many experience both material and spiritual poverty.”

“Do not give in to distrust and discouragement. Reject every form of abuse or violence, which deceives by promising easy gains but hardens the heart and makes it insensitive,” he said.

Pope Leo likewise told youths not to let themselves “be corrupted by temptations that waste your energies and do not serve the progress of society.”

He noted that Jesus carried out his ministry in spite of threats, persecution and urged them to continue proclaiming the Gospel even amid difficulty, saying, “Christian proclamation changes our lives, transforming minds and hearts.”

“Proclaiming the risen Jesus means leaving signs of justice in a suffering and oppressed land, signs of peace amid rivalry and corruption, signs of faith that free us from superstition and indifference,” he said, closing his remarks.

Source: Crux

18, April 2026

Douala: Pope urges Christians to reject violence at Mass that draws 120,000 people ⁰

Pope Leo called on Cameroonians on Friday to reject violence and be generous with their neighbours ‌during an event billed as the biggest of his four-nation Africa tour, with roughly 120,000 people flocking to a Mass he led in the port city of Douala.

Amid heavy security, some believers had made their way on Thursday to the city’s Japoma Stadium, venue of the Mass, and slept overnight outside on mats to hear Friday’s address from the pontiff, who has become outspoken on war and inequality and has drawn the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump.

By Friday morning, streets near the stadium were lined with crowds singing, dancing and holding umbrellas to shield themselves from the heat.

After arriving in Douala, Cameroon’s largest city and economic hub, by plane from the capital Yaoundé, Leo told the ⁠crowd that many in the country are suffering from “material and spiritual poverty” but he urged believers to reject violence as a means to get ahead, regardless of the hardships they face.

“Do not give in to distrust and discouragement,” the pope said, in an appeal made in English during a speech that was otherwise mostly in French.

“Reject every form of abuse or violence, which deceives by promising easy gains but hardens the heart and makes it insensitive.”

FORCEFUL REMARKS ON AFRICA TOUR

Leo, the first U.S. pope, has debuted a new, forceful speaking style on his Africa tour. In Yaoundé on Thursday, he said the world was “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants”, without naming anybody.

He has also this week decried violations of international law by “neocolonial” world powers and said “the whims of the rich and powerful” threaten peace.

Leo avoided overtly political messages on Friday.

Invoking the miracle of the loaves and fishes recounted in the Gospels, in which Jesus fed thousands with meagre resources, Leo said: “There is bread for everyone if it is given to everyone. There is bread for everyone if it is taken, not with a hand that snatches away, but ‌with a ⁠hand that gives.”

Carine Kemmoue, a medical doctor who attended Friday’s homily, said she saw a clear link between Leo’s message and his past statements critical of the war in Iran.

“I was very moved by the Pope’s message. When, I mean, he stands against positions like those of Donald Trump, for example, he is against violence,” Kemmoue said.

“I think that is normal for a man of God, since the Church promotes peace.”

After returning to Yaoundé on Friday afternoon, Leo met with students and professors at the Catholic University of Central Africa, which educates young people from across the region.

During the event, the pope referred ⁠to “the darker side of the environmental and social devastation caused by the relentless pursuit of raw materials.”

He drew a loud cheer when he said the continent “must be freed from the scourge of corruption.”

‘MOMENT OF JOY’ FOR CAMEROON’S CATHOLICS

Cameroon, a producer of oil and cocoa, faces grave security challenges, including a simmering Anglophone conflict in which thousands of people have been killed since 2017.

The country has been led for more than ⁠four decades by President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state at 93. His re-election last October sparked protests by opponents who say most ordinary Cameroonians have little to show for his rule.

Crowds greeting the pope on his visit to Cameroon have been enthusiastic, lining the streets along his routes and wearing colourful fabrics featuring images of his face.

Bishop Leopold Bayemi Matjei called ⁠Leo’s visit “a moment of great joy” and said he hoped it meant God would bless Cameroon.

“Our country needs a lot of blessing, a powerful blessing, so that hope will come to rise again,” said the bishop, who leads the Church in Obala, about an hour north of Yaoundé.

Friday was Leo’s last full day in Cameroon. He is scheduled to travel to Angola on Saturday.

Source: Reuters

17, April 2026

Pope Leo XIV’s Visit to Bamenda: “A Moral Abdication – Generic Platitudes While Ambazonia Bleeds” ⁰

In the shadow of St Joseph’s Cathedral, where the blood of Ambazonian sons and daughters still stains the soil of the Northern Zone, Pope Leo XIV stood before a carefully staged “Meeting for Peace.” Amba forces, in a unilateral gesture of goodwill and restraint, had announced a three-day temporary cessation of hostilities to ensure the Holy Father’s safety and the dignity of his apostolic journey. Yet what the Vatican delivered in return was not prophetic truth to power, but a masterclass in diplomatic evasion – a torrent of lofty abstractions that left the structural genocide against the people of the former UN Trust Territory of British Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) untouched, unnamed, and unaddressed.

The Pope spoke of “peace,” of “fraternity,” and of the dangers of manipulating religion for “military, economic and political gain.” He lamented the “almost decade-long conflict,” acknowledged dusty feet on bloodstained yet fertile land, and urged conversion and neighbourly love. He praised interfaith efforts and a so-called Movement for Peace. Fine words. Empty ones. In the very epicentre of Yaoundé’s scorched-earth war crimes – where La Republique du Cameroun (BIR) occupation forces have, since 2016, carried out extrajudicial executions, systematic village burnings, mass rape, torture, and enforced disappearances – the Successor of Peter uttered not one syllable about the root cause: the criminal annexation of Ambazonia in defiance of UN General Assembly Resolution 1608 (XV) of 21 April 1961.

He never once named the crisis for what it is: the direct, predictable consequence of failed decolonisation. He never invoked the binding legal instruments – the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Banjul Decision on Communication 266/2003, the 2019 Abuja Federal High Court ruling declaring the rendition of Ambazonian leader’s illegal, or the peremptory norm of the right to self-determination enshrined in the UN Charter and the 1966 International Covenants.

Not a word was spoken about the over 580,000 internally displaced Ambazonians, the “world’s most neglected displacement crisis” as declared by the Norwegian Refugee Council. Not a whisper about the Nera 10 and thousands of other political prisoners rotting in Yaoundé’s maximum-security dungeons in open defiance of Nigerian and African Commission rulings. No demand for an immediate, verifiable ceasefire monitored by a neutral AU/UN mission. No call for unfettered humanitarian access. No insistence on direct, unconditional negotiations between Yaoundé and legitimate Ambazonian representatives– in a neutral third country, with the full spectrum of outcomes, including total independence, explicitly on the table.

The 16-Point Peace Plan released by Ambazonian representatives in July 2025 – some concrete, staged, monitorable roadmap endorsed by the very legal instruments the Vatican claims to uphold – received zero mention. Not the immediate ceasefire. Not the unconditional release of all prisoners. Not the restoration of meaningful autonomy or explicit negotiation of independence. Not the independent truth and reconciliation commission. Not demilitarisation and international guarantees. Nothing.

Instead, the Pope offered the same toothless, Yaoundé-friendly mantra of “dialogue” and “national unity” that has enabled nine years of atrocious crimes. In his April 15 address to authorities in Yaoundé, he acknowledged “tensions and violence” in the Northwest and Southwest (Ambazonia) without once assigning responsibility to the Biya regime’s militias and or security forces – the same forces documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the U.S. State Department as perpetrators of summary executions, house-burnings, and the dumping of civilian bodies. He framed the crisis within Cameroon’s “richness of cultures and languages” – a deliberate linguistic sleight-of-hand that erases Ambazonia’s distinct colonial history and legal personality as a former UN Trust Territory.

This was not pastoral caution. This was political cowardice. While villages in the Northern Zone still smoulder and orphaned children crowd refugee camps in Nigeria, the Holy Father chose photo-ops over prophecy. He legitimised a regime that, just twelve days earlier on 4 April 2026, rammed through constitutional amendments restoring the vice-presidency without any guarantee of Anglophone representation – another cynical cheat exposed by The Guardian Post Cameroon as “Anglophones cheated again!”

The Vatican, which once confronted apartheid and mediated Latin American civil wars, has today chosen silence in the face of what the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect has warned is an imminent risk of atrocity crimes. A generic appeal for “peace” that refuses to confront the unacceptable marginalisation of Southern Cameroonians, the scorched-earth tactics of the occupation forces, or the legal foundations of Ambazonian statehood is not neutrality – it is complicity.

The people of Ambazonia expected courage. They received platitudes. They expected truth. They received diplomacy. They expected a shepherd. They received a politician in white.

The suffering of burned villages, raped women, orphaned children, and exiled leaders demands more than prayers. It demands prophetic denunciation. Today in Bamenda, that denunciation was absent. History will record this visit not as a triumph of peace, but as a shameful photo-op that allowed a genocidal regime to cloak itself in papal legitimacy while its war machines continue their work of annihilation.

About the Author: Dr Larry Ayamba is a former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Ambazonia Governing Council (AGovC). He campaigned relentlessly for the decolonisation of the former UN Trust Territory of British Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia), represented the AGovC on the world stage, and authored its successful admission to the UNPO in 2018. Dr AYAMBA frames the crisis as a continuation of colonial annexation and continues to demand genuine dialogue – or the explicit restoration of total Ambazonian independence – as the only path to justice.

The views expressed in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cameroon Concord News Group

16, April 2026

US-Israel bombed 6 bridges – Iranian engineers rebuilt them in 96 hours ⁰

Iran not only survived the heaviest bombardment of its civilian infrastructure in modern history during the 40-day war of aggression imposed by the US-Israeli alliance but also achieved the rare engineering feat of restoring six major railway bridges and dozens of critical transport links in under 96 hours.

One key span near Qom reopened in less than 40 minutes, effectively neutralizing the enemy’s key strategy of paralyzing the nation through economic strangulation.

The ceasefire that took effect on April 8, 2026, after more than five weeks of sustained aggression, did not come a moment too soon for civilians.

But for Iran’s engineering corps, it came just in time to showcase a level of infrastructure resilience and readiness unmatched in modern military history.

While enemy war planners had explicitly targeted the country’s railway bridges, freeway overpasses, power substations, and even civilian airports to break supply chains and demoralize the population, the response from Tehran’s domestic engineering team fundamentally rewrote the rules of modern warfare.

Rather than crippling Iran, the aggression has demonstrated that the Islamic Republic can rebuild its most vital arteries faster than foreign adversaries can destroy them.

16, April 2026

The Holy Father is in Bamenda to preach a message of peace ⁰

Pope Leo XIV travelled Thursday to the western Cameroonian city of Bamenda to preach a message of peace in the epicenter of a separatist conflict that humanitarian groups have called one of the world’s most neglected crises.

Leo’s Camair charter landed at the Bamenda airport, where jubilant Cameroonians clogged the roads, blowing horns and dancing. They were overjoyed that a pope had come so far to see them and put a global spotlight on the violence that has traumatized this region for nearly a decade.

Leo is to preside over a peace meeting involving a Mankon traditional chief, a Presbyterian moderator, an imam and a Catholic nun. The aim is to highlight the interfaith movement that has been seeking to end the conflict and care for its many traumatized victims.

It wasn’t immediately clear if any of the separatist fighters, who announced a three-day pause in fighting to allow the pope safe passage, would attend.

The pope is also set to celebrate a Mass for the people of Bamenda, near the western border with Nigeria.

Leo arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday on the second leg of his four-nation African trip, the first by the first American pope. In his arrival speech, he demanded the “chains of corruption” in the mineral-rich country be broken and lectured President Paul Biya on the legitimate exercise of authority.

The 93-year-old Biya, the world’s oldest leader, has been in power since 1982 and claims to have won a disputed election last year that gave him an eighth term in office.

The conflict in Cameroon’s two Anglophone regions is rooted in Cameroon’s colonial history, when the country was divided between France and Britain after World War I. English-speaking regions later joined French Cameroon in a 1961 U.N.-backed vote, but separatists say they have since been politically and economically marginalized.

In 2017, English-speaking separatists launched a rebellion with the stated goal of breaking away from the French-speaking majority and establishing an independent state. The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced over 600,000 others, according to the International Crisis Group.

The separatist movement is believed to be backed by several actors abroad. In December last year, a federal jury in U.S. convicted two individuals for conspiracy to provide funds and equipment to the separatist fighters. Belgian authorities in March also announced they had arrested four people as part of its investigations into Belgian residents suspected of being among the separatist leaders and raising money for them from Belgium.

Cameroon sits atop significant reserves of oil, natural gas, cobalt, bauxite, iron ore, gold and diamonds, making resource extraction one of the pillars of its economy.

While French and English companies have long dominated the extraction industry in Cameroon, Chinese companies have established a significant presence in recent years, particularly in the gold mining regions of the east.

On the eve of Leo’s arrival, separatist fighters announced a three-day pause in fighting. A spokesperson for the Unity Alliance, Lucas Asu, said the pause “reflects a deliberate commitment to responsibility, restraint and respect for human dignity, even in the context of ongoing conflict.”

He said the pope’s visit should remain “spiritual” and not be seen as endorsing any political authority.

Though the number of deadly attacks by separatists has decreased in recent years, the conflict shows no sign of resolution. Peace talks with international mediators have stalled, with both sides accusing each other of acting in bad faith.

Morine Ngum, a mother of three whose husband was shot dead in 2022 by Cameroonian soldiers while fighting as a separatist, expressed doubt that the pope’s visit and peace meeting would lead to meaningful change. She said any real progress must begin with those in power.

“Nothing is going to change,” said Ngum, 30. “This conflict has turned my children into orphans and me into a widow. Many families have been rendered homeless.”

Source: ABC News

16, April 2026

World Bank Group launches initiative to improve water security for 1 billion people ⁰

The World Bank Group, in partnership with multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and key partners, today launched Water Forward, a global platform to help improve water security for 1 billion people by 2030. The platform will align policy reforms, financing, and partnerships to expand reliable water services and strengthen systems against droughts and floods—essential conditions for job creation.

Water underpins health, food systems, energy, and an estimated 1.7 billion jobs worldwide; yet 4 billion people experience water scarcity. In many countries, unclear policies, weak regulations, and financially unsustainable utilities have slowed progress and deterred investment in the sector. Water Forward aims to address these challenges by helping developing countries build stronger, more reliable water systems that can unlock productivity, support livelihoods, and enable private investment. The initiative will support reforms to strengthen institutions, improve financial performance, and develop investment-ready projects.

“Water is foundational to how economies function. When water systems work, farmers produce, businesses operate, and cities attract investment. Our task now is to align reform, financing, and partnerships to deliver reliable water services at scale,” said Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group.

At the core of the initiative are country-led water compacts, through which governments define reform priorities, commit to strengthening institutions, and establish investment pathways for their water sectors. Today, 14 countries announced their national water compact under the Water Forward initiative, and many more are underway.

Multilateral development banks, governments, philanthropies, and private sector actors are aligning financing and expertise to speed investment and implementation of projects that will boost reliable access to water. The World Bank Group is committed to delivering water security to 400 million by 2030. With its additional partner commitments, Water Forward expects to reach more than 1 billion people.

With more than 1.2 billion young people entering the workforce in developing countries over the next 10 to 15 years, reliable water will be critical. Strong water systems are foundational to healthy economies that can attract private investment and create jobs.

Multilateral development banks and development finance institutions that have committed to specific beneficiary targets for 2030 include the:

Asian Development Bank,

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,

Council of Europe Development Bank,

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,

European Investment Bank,

Inter-American Development Bank,

Islamic Development Bank

New Development Bank,

OPEC Fund for Intranational Development; and the

International Fund for Agricultural Development.

16, April 2026

Pope Leo XIV continues Cameroon visit as tight security, traffic restrictions hit Douala ⁰

Pope Leo XIV is continuing his official visit to Cameroon after arriving in Yaounde on April 15, 2026, as part of an African tour that began in Algeria. He is expected in Douala on Friday, April 17.

The visit has prompted extensive security and logistical measures, particularly affecting traffic. In a radio statement issued on April 14, the governor of the Littoral region, Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, outlined arrangements in the economic capital. The pope’s programme includes a mass at the Japoma Sports Complex, followed by a private visit to Saint Paul Catholic Hospital.

A special traffic plan will be in place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to ensure security and facilitate movements. It will mainly cover the route from Douala International Airport to the Japoma complex, then to Saint Paul Hospital, before returning to the airport.

Significant restrictions are expected, with diversions and route changes. Drivers travelling to and from Edea must use the Dibamba–Japoma–Nkolmbong–Nyalla-Rails corridor, with options via Total Logbaba or PK 12.

For drivers from Bonaberi, alternative routes include the Deido roundabout, either through Ndokoti and Nyalla or via Bonamoussadi, Logpom and Logbessou. Residents of Douala’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts are also advised to use these bypass routes.

Authorities have designated crossing points at key locations, including the Nelson Mandela interchange and intersections at Billes, Ndogpassi and Yassa, to reduce disruption. Some areas will be completely closed to traffic to secure the papal motorcade. Traffic may also be temporarily halted during the mass before gradually returning to normal after the pope’s departure.

In Yaounde, where the pope began his visit, authorities also implemented a traffic plan. According to the national police, the measures aim to maintain order, security and smooth traffic flow. Some main routes have been restricted or temporarily closed, and residents were advised to avoid affected areas.

These measures are already affecting residents, who must contend with detours and disruptions. Despite this, the visit has raised strong interest among the faithful. For Cameroon, it carries religious, symbolic and diplomatic significance.

Source: Business in Cameroon

16, April 2026

Inside the Unity Palace: Pope Leo demands the ‘chains of corruption’ be broken ⁰

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday where he delivered a masterclass on wielding authority legitimately to President Paul Biya, who consolidated his four-decade grip on power with a contested election last year that gave him an eighth term in office.

The Vatican had said fighting corruption in the mineral-rich central African country would be one of the themes of Leo’s visit, and the American pope didn’t hold back in addressing Biya and government authorities in an address at the presidential palace.

“In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption — which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility — must be broken,” Leo said. “Hearts must be set free from an idolatrous thirst for profit.”

Biya, who at 93 is the world’s oldest leader, sat passively as Leo read his speech in French. Cameroonian television halted its live feed for parts of Leo’s speech, but it wasn’t clear if technical issues were to blame.

The Vatican has made clear that Catholic social teaching disapproves of the types of authoritarian leaders that Leo is encountering on his four-nation African visit.

The highlight of Leo’s visit will be a “peace meeting” on Thursday in Cameroon’s northwest city of Bamenda, which has been plagued by separatist violence.

Pope calls for a ‘bold leap’

Biya has led Cameroon since 1982 and just Tuesday signed into law a bill that reintroduces the vice president position, a move the opposition says will further strengthen his grip on power.

Cameroon’s opposition has contested the result of the Oct. 12 election that secured another victory for Biya. His rival Issa Tchiroma Bakary claims to have won and has called on Cameroonians to reject the official result.

Leo told Biya that Cameroon needed to take “a bold leap forward” to impose transparency in public finances and integrate civil society organizations into the fabric of daily life.

Young people in general — and women in particular — had a vital role to play in bringing Cameroon into a new dawn, he said.

“Their commitment to education, mediation and the rebuilding of the social fabric is unparalleled and serves to curb corruption and abuses of power. For this reason, too, their voice must be fully recognized in decision- making processes,” Leo said.

The pope, who wrote his canon law dissertation on the wielding of authority by Augustinian religious superiors, cited St. Augustine on the correct role of political leaders that he said was relevant today.

“Those who rule serve those whom they seem to command; for they rule not from a love of power, but from a sense of the duty they owe to others,” he said, quoting Augustine.

He added: “From this perspective, serving one’s country means dedicating oneself, with a clear mind and an upright conscience, to the common good of all people in the nation.”

‘Light entering a dark room’

Cheering Cameroonians gave Leo a raucous welcome, the first pope to visit since Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. They lined the road into the capital Yaounde from the airport, two and three deep in places, dancing and waving palm fronds as the pope’s motorcade whizzed by.

Many women dressed in identical bright dresses and stood behind banners announcing the name of their parish, while billboards splashed posters of the pope and Biya under the banner “Land of Hope.”

Gerald Mambeh, a Catholic teacher in Yaounde, said the pope’s visit needs to spark genuine dialogue and accountability to achieve lasting peace.

“This visit feels like light entering a dark room … but peace will not come from symbolism alone,” said Mambeh. “In a country where many feel abandoned, his presence feels like God has not forgotten us. Let the pope hear this beyond the politics: Cameroonians are not asking for miracles, we are asking for fairness, dignity, and a future.”

‘Share in the national cake’

Cameroon has significant reserves of oil, natural gas, cobalt, bauxite, iron ore, gold and diamonds. The extractive sector accounts for nearly a third of the country’s exports, according to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

But rights groups and the Catholic Church say revenues from extraction rarely reach the rural and indigenous communities that live closest to mining and drilling operations, while foreign companies and a small national elite capture most of the profits.

Leo said such a status quo cannot remain.

“Transparency in the management of public resources and respect for the rule of law are essential to restoring trust,” he said. “It is time to examine our conscience and take a bold leap forward.”

Public official Angelica Ambe Mundi said she was touched by Leo’s message. After he finished, she stepped forward and gently touched his chair before pressing her hand to her chest. She then knelt in quiet reverence.

“He spoke about the even distribution of state resources… violence comes when people feel disgruntled, when they are marginalized,” she told The Associated Press.

For her, his words cut to the core of Cameroon’s unrest: “People get violent when they are hungry. To stop violence, every Cameroonian must feel they belong — and share in the national cake.”

Pause in fighting

English-speaking separatists launched a rebellion in 2017 with the stated goal of breaking away from Cameroon’s French-speaking majority and establishing an independent state. The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced over 600,000 others, according to the International Crisis Group, a think tank.

On the eve of Leo’s arrival, the English-speaking separatists announced a three-day pause in fighting to allow “safe travel” for his visit.

The Unity Alliance, which includes several separatist groups, said in a statement Monday that the pause reflects the “profound spiritual importance” of the pope’s visit and is intended to allow civilians, pilgrims and dignitaries to travel safely.

Biya, who has shunned dialogue with the English-speaking separatists, spoke of a world in need of tolerance and hope as a replacement for “the voice of arms.”

“The world needs the message of peace, justice, tolerance, forgiveness, and love that you embody,” he told Leo.

Source: AP

15, April 2026

Yaoundé: Pope Leo says peace must not be reduced to a slogan ⁰

Addressing authorities, representatives of civil society and members of the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace in Yaoundé, shortly after his arrival in Cameroon on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV delivered an appeal for peace, justice and renewed commitment to the common good, urging Cameroonians to draw on their rich diversity as a source of unity and strength.

Speaking at the start of his Apostolic Journey to the Central African nation, the Pope expressed gratitude for the warm welcome he received, describing Cameroon as “Africa in miniature” for its cultural and natural richness.

“This variety is not weakness but a treasure,” he said, noting that it represents “a promise of fraternity and a solid foundation for building lasting peace.”

Pope Leo XIV delivering his address (@Vatican Media)

A mission of dialogue and hope

Presenting himself as “a shepherd and a servant of dialogue, fraternity and peace,” Pope Leo XIV said his visit is intended as a sign of closeness to all Cameroonians and an encouragement to persevere in building the common good.

He acknowledged the global climate of discouragement, observing that “hopelessness is rampant” and that many feel powerless in the face of urgent challenges. Yet, he insisted, there remains “a hunger and thirst for justice… for courageous choices and for peace,” particularly among young people, whom he called to take an active role in shaping a more just society.

The Pope also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with Cameroon, grounded in respect for human dignity and religious freedom.

Serving with humility and responsibility

Recalling the legacy of his predecessors, he pointed to the enduring relevance of their calls for hope, reconciliation and responsible governance.

Drawing on the words of Saint Augustine, he reminded leaders that authority is fundamentally a form of service: those who govern, he said, must do so “not from a love of power, but from a sense of the duty they owe to others.”

Such service, he explained, requires dedication to the good of all, including minorities, and the promotion of harmony within society.

A plea for peace amid suffering

Turning to the challenges facing the country, Pope Leo XIV spoke candidly about the violence affecting regions such as the Northwest, Southwest and Far North, noting the “profound suffering” caused by conflict: lives lost, families displaced, and young people deprived of hope.

“Behind the numbers are the faces, stories and shattered hopes of real people,” he said.

Renewing an appeal he made earlier this year, the Pope urged the rejection of “the logic of violence and war” in favour of a peace “founded on love and justice.” He described true peace as “unarmed” and “disarming,” capable of opening hearts and fostering trust.

“The world is thirsting for peace… Enough of war,” he insisted, stressing that peace must never be reduced to empty rhetoric but embodied in daily life and institutional practice.

Pope Leo XIV in the Presidential Palace (@Vatican Media)

The role of institutions and civil society

The Pope affirmed that peace is a shared responsibility, beginning with those in positions of authority. To govern, he said, means “truly listening to citizens” and valuing their contributions in shaping lasting solutions.

He also called for a renewed approach to social policies, echoing the need to move beyond initiatives carried out “for the poor” without their participation.

Highlighting the vital role of civil society, Pope Leo XIV praised associations, youth and women’s groups, trade unions, NGOs, and religious leaders for their efforts in mediation, care for the displaced, and the promotion of dialogue. Their grassroots presence, he said, allows them to address the root causes of conflict and foster a culture of peace.

He offered particular gratitude for the contribution of women, describing them as “tireless peacemakers” whose work in education and social rebuilding is indispensable. “Their voice must be fully recognised in decision-making processes,” he said.

Integrity, justice and the fight against corruption

The Pope underscored the importance of transparency, the rule of law, and credible institutions in restoring public trust. He called on authorities to act as “bridges, never as sources of division,” and to ensure that security measures always respect human rights.

“Authentic peace arises when everyone feels protected, heard and respected,” he noted.

He further warned against corruption, describing it as a force that “disfigures authority and strips it of its credibility,” and urged leaders to free themselves from an “idolatrous thirst for profit,” pointing instead to integral human development as the true measure of progress.

Women in the crowd listening to the Pope’s address (@Vatican Media)

Investing in youth and the future

Turning again to young people, Pope Leo XIV described them as “the hope of the country and of the Church,” while acknowledging the dangers posed by unemployment, exclusion and social marginalisation.

“Investing in the education, training and entrepreneurship of young people is… a strategic choice for peace,” he said, stressing that it is also key to preventing migration and combating social ills such as drug abuse and exploitation.

He noted with appreciation the deep spirituality of Cameroonian youth, which, when properly nurtured, can inspire commitment to peace, justice and solidarity.

A shared path toward reconciliation

The Pope encouraged greater interreligious dialogue and the involvement of religious leaders in mediation efforts, highlighting the Church’s ongoing commitment to education, healthcare and charitable service for all, without distinction.

He expressed his desire for continued cooperation with civil authorities and international partners in promoting human dignity and reconciliation.

Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV invoked God’s blessing upon Cameroon and its people. “May God bless Cameroon,” he said, “and grant the entire Cameroonian people… the grace to welcome the Kingdom of God and so build together a future of justice and peace.”

Source: The Vatican News

15, April 2026

The Holy Father under the Cameroonian skies: we welcome you with open arms ⁰

Anglophone Roman Catholic Bishops wrote a brilliant letter to the 93-year-old butcher in Yaoundé and suggested possible ways of ending the crisis in Southern Cameroons. Biya spurned disdainfully the Bishops. A francophone Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Bafia was murdered and his body dumped inside a river. Till this day, the Biya regime has not commented on the sad incident.

Today in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital, as the sun rises over the seven hills, Cameroonian Bishops and the Prime Minister and Head of Government Chief Dr Dion Ngute extended a profound and sincere welcome to the Holy Father Pope Leo, whose presence in the divided nation marks a moment of grace, unity and renewed spiritual reflection.

Cameroon, often referred to as Africa in miniature is indeed a land of rich diversity of cultures, languages and traditions living together differently in a poorly concocted national identity. It is within this tapestry that the Cameroonian Bishops from both English and French speaking parts of the country and members of government received the nation’s distinguished guest the Holy Father Pope Leo with confidence that his pastoral mission will resonate deeply with the hopes and faith of the Cameroonian people.

The coming of the Holy Father to a sick nation is more than a ceremonial occasion. We of the Cameroon Concord News Group see it as a spiritual encounter. At a time when Cameroon is facing uncertainty, division and hardship, Pope Leo’s message of compassion, justice and peace carries particular significance. For all the faithful across the nation, Pope Leo’s presence is a reminder of the enduring strength of community, the importance of political reconciliation of both La Republique and Southern Cameroons and the call to serve one another with humility and love.

We of the Cameroon Concord News Group trust that the Holy Father’s pastoral trip to Yaoundé, Douala and Bamenda will be both meaningful and restorative. May the Holy Father Pope Leo find in our Roman Catholic churches the fervor of our prayers, in our French and English speaking communities the warmth of our Cameroonian hospitality and in our troubled nation the resilience and dignity of a people committed to faith and progress.

As Pope Leo journeys through Yaoundé, Douala and Bamenda, may his words inspire genuine dialogue, healing and renewed commitment to the common good of the Cameroonian nation. And may this visit strengthen the bonds between the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the people of Cameroon, leaving a lasting imprint on our shared spiritual journey.

Holy Father Pope Leo, Cameroon welcomes you with open arms. May your stay be peaceful, enriching and filled with the grace you so generously bring to others.

To this I put my name

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Chairman/Editor-In-Chief