Cameroon

20, March 2026

Yaoundé: Catholics invited to throng Pope Leo XIV’s procession ⁰

The Archbishop of Cameroon’s Archdiocese of Yaoundé has encouraged animated participation in the planned Apostolic Visit of Pope Leo XIV to the central African country, calling on Catholics in the country to turn out in large numbers along the routes of the papal procession.

In a pastoral letter on Monday, March 16, Archbishop Jean Mbarga said that to ensure a fitting welcome of the Holy Father, attention should be paid to three key areas of preparation: mobilisation, unity, and prayer.

Archbishop Mbarga described the papal visit scheduled for April 15–18 as “an event of grace,” emphasizing its spiritual significance for the local Church.

“This visit is, for all of us, an event of grace. The Pope comes, as Vicar of Christ and Successor of the Apostle Saint Peter, to strengthen us in the faith. But he also comes as a Father in the midst of his family,” Archbishop Mbarga said.

“I invite the faithful to gather along the various routes that the papal procession will take. May our streets vibrate to the rhythm of our songs and our joy!” he said.

The Catholic Church leader added, “At each movement of the Holy Father, we will form honor guards to show him our affection and our unity, following the routes that will be indicated.”

Archbishop Mbarga also underscored the importance of visible unity among Church groups during the visit.

“I strongly encourage all members of movements, associations, and choirs to wear their group attire or the various uniforms available. May this visual harmony reflect the unity of our hearts,” he said.

Archbishop Mbarga further called on groups responsible for liturgical animation to prepare vibrant performances.

“I would like all groups in charge of song and dance performances to prepare the most beautiful hymns, tune their musical instruments, and offer choreographies of great rejoicing,” he said.

He implored, “May the city of Yaoundé, the convergence point of our three Ecclesiastical Provinces, be in celebration, thus bearing witness to a living, joyful, and fraternal Church!”

A special prayer has been prepared for the Apostolic Journey, and members of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) have requested that it be recited daily at the end of every Eucharistic celebration in all parishes and religious communities.

Archbishop Mbarga emphasized that this be respected in all parishes and religious communities of his Metropolitan See.

He urged the faithful to participate actively in the liturgical highlight of the visit.

“In this spirit, let us all pray for this Apostolic Journey of the Supreme Pontiff in our country. Let us especially be numerous in attending the Pontifical Mass that the Holy Father will celebrate on April 18, 2026, at exactly 9:30 a.m. at Yaoundé Air Base 101, where our Communion around the Altar, supported by free and open public participation, will be even stronger,” the Catholic Archbishop said.

He invited the people of God to remain united in anticipation and prayer, saying, “In the Joy and Prayer of this anticipation, may God watch over us!”

On March 16, the Vatican released the official itinerary for the first Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV to Africa, scheduled for April 13–23.

The visit is expected to take the Holy Father to four countries – Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea – marking his first pastoral journey to the continent since his election to the Papacy in May 2025.

The 11-day visit combines pastoral encounters with Catholic communities, meetings with political leaders and civil society, and symbolic gestures of interreligious dialogue and reconciliation.

Source: aciafrica

19, March 2026

No tickets will be sold for Pope Leo XIV’s masses in Cameroon ⁰

A poster circulating widely on WhatsApp claims that access fees will be charged for masses to be celebrated by Pope Leo XIV during his apostolic visit to Cameroon. The poster, shared for several hours on the messaging platform, lists fees ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 CFA francs to attend celebrations in Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala. The claim is false: the Apostolic Nunciature in Cameroon has formally denied that any tickets are being sold.

An image widely shared on WhatsApp claims to be an official poster for the apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon, scheduled for April 15-18, 2026. The image lists several categories of access to papal masses: “ticket” (10,000 CFA francs), “comfort” (30,000 CFA francs), “premium” (50,000 CFA francs) and “ultra VIP” (100,000 CFA francs), and includes a WhatsApp number for reservations.

Several elements suggest the poster is not authentic. It does not display the official logo of the Catholic Church in Cameroon, refers to a ticketing system that is unusual for papal masses, and uses a graphic style more typical of commercial promotional posters.

Official framework of the visit

On February 25, 2026, the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of Cameroon announced that Pope Leo XIV would undertake an apostolic visit to the country from April 15 to 18 at the invitation of President Paul Biya. The program includes stops in Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala.

Local church authorities have also begun announcing the celebrations planned during the visit. The Archdiocese of Bamenda, for example, confirmed in a communiqué dated March 8 and published on March 13 that a mass will be celebrated at Bamenda Airport on April 16. The document does not mention any payment required to attend.

Official denial

Following the circulation of the poster, the Apostolic Nunciature in Cameroon issued a clarification stating that no tickets are being sold for the papal visit.

In its statement, the Nunciature confirmed that access to all liturgical celebrations presided over by Pope Leo XIV in Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala will be entirely free. It added that no ticket sales or paid reservations have been authorized.

The Nunciature also warned against any private initiative seeking to charge for access to papal masses and called on the faithful to focus on the spiritual preparation for the visit.

The Archdioceses of Yaoundé and Douala also dismissed the poster on social media, stating that access to papal celebrations is free and that the message circulating online is a scam.

The poster claiming that access to Pope Leo XIV’s masses in Cameroon requires payment is misinformation. Church authorities confirm that attendance at the celebrations during the apostolic visit will be free.

Source: Sbbc

16, March 2026

Bishop Nkuo says government must protect young Cameroonians from traffickers ⁰

A bishop in Cameroon’s war-torn North West region petitioned the government to act on the alarming number of Cameroonians trapped in human trafficking camps in Nigeria.

Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo said the Justice and Peace Commission of his diocese has confirmed that over 3,000 Cameroonians are trapped in nine traffickers’ camps in Nigeria.

Speaking to The Tablet shortly after handing over a confidential petition to authorities and consular services in Yaoundé, he said further indicators suggest there could be as many as 40 camps affecting over 7,000 Cameroonians.

Like many parts of Cameroon’s English-speaking North West and South West regions, the Diocese of Kumbo has become accustomed to the phenomenon of human trafficking, but the separatist war afflicting both regions has caused an alarming escalation.

“The most critical factor is the closure of government schools. In Bui Division [the administrative area that covers parts of the diocese] alone, 42,000 children were attending government schools. Now, all those schools are closed. These children have nowhere to go – they are left idle and helpless,” Bishop Nkuo said.

“Traffickers are taking direct advantage of this vulnerability. With children out of school and families struggling, people are luring them away with false promises. They tell the children they will provide them with jobs, an education or a ‘better life’ in a ‘greener pasture’. For a child with no school and no prospects, these offers are dangerously appealing. The situation is spiraling out of control.”

He continued: “Our youth should be in classrooms and not in camps. They should be on farms and in industries, not in bondage. They should be in seminaries, workshops and families, not on exploitation expeditions.”

“The promises made to them are entirely false,” said Isidore Njodzeven, deputy head of the diocese’s Justice and Peace Commission.

“They cannot return home because their documents are taken away upon arrival. They can only make calls at designated times, while those monitoring them create a false sense of normalcy.”

Bishop Nkuo said he has written to the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria, drawing their attention to the trafficking crisis: “We believe they are committed to resolving it.”

He said a more sustainable solution depended not just on bringing an end to the separatist crisis, but also creating the conditions for young people to thrive in Cameroon.

Source: The Tablet

14, March 2026

Catholic Men in Cameroon express excitement about envisioned Pope’s visit ⁰

The National President of the Catholic Men Association (CMA) in Cameroon has pledged that members of the association will be “present in every activity” of the April 15–18 planned visit of Pope Leo XIV to the central African country.

In a Thursday, March 12 interview with ACI Africa, Okie Johnson Ndoh said the confirmation of the Pope’s visit has been received with excitement among Catholic men in Cameroon and other members of the group living in the diaspora.

“We received this news with total joy, excitement, and fulfilment. At last, the rumour is confirmed. The Pope is coming,” Mr. Ndoh told ACI Africa.

He added, “The CMA is totally mobilised. We are engaged in every activity, being the fathers of the Church, in our role to assist the Church, the Bishops, the Priests, especially as the Pope comes.”

Mr. Ndoh emphasized that the association is ready to support the Church during the papal visit, noting that Catholic men see themselves as pillars of the Church and leaders within their families and communities.

“Our mobilisation will be total, we will be present in every activity, in every event that the Pope has,” he said.

The Catholic official continued, “CMA will be very present at every single event of the Pope and in every activity that the Church thinks necessary to involve the CMA.”

The CMA President who is also serving as the general coordinator of the papal visit in Cameroon, described his task as a moment of pride for the association.

“I call on all CMA members, wherever you are, to mobilize, and to be behind the Church in every activity that is going on. Be it in Yaoundé, be it in Bamenda, be it in Douala. All of us must be present and show our leading role,” he said.

Mr. Ndoh encouraged Catholic men across Cameroon and abroad to take part in welcoming the Pope, describing the moment as an opportunity to demonstrate humility, service, and commitment to the Church.

He emphasized that the Pope’s visit comes at a time when Cameroon continues to face social and political challenges, and urged Catholics to receive the Pope’s message of peace and reconciliation.

“You know the Pope is coming with a message of peace. He is coming as a messenger of peace,” he said, and added, “All of us must therefore put our hands together to pray in total commitment that this message of peace, love, reconciliation, and forgiveness be received by all.”

Mr. Ndoh noted that members of the association have been praying for peace in Cameroon since 2019, an d expressed optimism that the papal visit would be the height of prayers for peace in the country.

Calling on Catholic men to deepen their prayer life, he added that the papal visit should inspire Cameroonians to forgive one another and rebuild unity.

Meanwhile, preparations are also underway to ensure that the liturgical celebrations during the papal visit reflect both the universal traditions of the Church and the cultural richness of Cameroon.

Fr. Antoine Essomba Fouda, a member of the national liturgical preparation team, told ACI Africa that papal liturgies follow specific canons.

“The papal liturgy obeys the canons of simplicity, sobriety, and solemnity,” Fr. Fouda said, and added, “For the requirements of inculturation, the Church in Cameroon will ensure that this liturgy is inculturated in its gestures, sacred songs, and responses.”

According to the Catholic Priest, choirs and cultural expressions will play a significant role in the celebrations across the three cities that will host the Pope.

He told ACI Africa that in Douala there will be a choir of about 600 people, in Bamenda about 400, and another choir of no less than 200 or 300 people dressed in traditional costumes.

Fr. Fouda emphasized that while the celebrations will highlight Cameroon’s cultural richness, the focus will remain on prayer and worship.

“This liturgy will be festive but at the same time prayerful,” he said, adding that the papal visit in Cameroon should remain “a moment of prayer, elevation and praise to the Lord.”

He also revealed that the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) entrusted him with coordinating preparations with the Vatican’s Office of Liturgical Celebrations.

“The National Episcopal Conference has put me on a mission to meet the Master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Holy Father, Monsignor Ravelli, so that we can prepare this liturgy,” he said.

Fr. Fouda invited Catholics from across the country to participate in the liturgical celebrations planned in Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Douala.

“I invite all Christians from Cameroon, wherever they are, to come and participate in these liturgical celebrations… for the greatest glory of God and our own sanctification,” he said.

Source: ACI Africa

12, March 2026

7 key things to know about the Catholic Church in Cameroon ⁰

After concluding the first leg of his African apostolic journey in Algeria, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to travel to Cameroon from April 15–18. In the Central African nation, the Holy Father is set to visit the capital, Yaoundé, and the metropolitan sees of Bamenda and Douala.

If Algeria represents the Church as a small minority navigating a Muslim-majority society, Cameroon presents a different ecclesial landscape. The Catholic Church there is demographically significant, institutionally entrenched, socially influential, and politically attentive.

Ahead of the papal visit officially announced on Feb. 25, here are seven structural realities that define the Church’s profile in Cameroon.

1. A numerically significant and growing Catholic population

Cameroon’s population is religiously diverse, comprising Christians, Muslims, and practitioners of African traditional religions. Within the Christian bloc, Catholics constitute one of the largest denominations. Current estimates place Catholics at roughly 30% to 35% of the national population, translating into several million Catholics.

This scale gives the Catholic Church measurable public presence. Parishes are numerous, Catholic diocesan structures are well developed, and lay movements are active across urban and rural areas. The Church is not a marginal actor; it is a central stakeholder in national life.

Growth trends remain steady rather than explosive. Unlike some East African contexts where Catholic numbers have surged, Cameroon’s expansion is incremental and closely tied to demographic growth. Nonetheless, vocations to the priesthood and Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) continue at levels that sustain ecclesial institutions.

In Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV is set to encounter with a people of God neither defensive nor peripheral but fully embedded in national society.

2. Robust ecclesiastical structure and metropolitan sees

The Catholic Church in Cameroon is organized into five ecclesiastical provinces, each headed by a metropolitan archbishop. These include Yaoundé, Bamenda, Douala, Garoua, and Bertoua.

The Archdiocese of Yaoundé serves the political capital and functions as a strategic center for Church-state engagement. Douala, the country’s economic hub, anchors the Littoral region and reflects the Church’s engagement with commerce, urbanization, and migration.

Bamenda, in the Anglophone Northwest Region, carries particular pastoral and political weight due to ongoing instability in that part of the country. Garoua Archdiocese is in the north of the country, while Bertoua Archdiocese is in the east.

The bishops collectively operate through the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), which regularly issues pastoral letters on social, political, and moral issues.

Pope Leo XIV’s decision to visit three metropolitan sees signals recognition of Cameroon’s regional diversity and ecclesial complexity.

3. A Church with deep historical roots

Catholic missionary activity in Cameroon dates to the late 19th century, particularly under German colonial administration and later French and British rule. Missionaries established schools, clinics, and parishes that became foundational to local communities.

Over time, ecclesial leadership transitioned from missionary congregations to Indigenous clergy. Today, Cameroonian Catholic bishops and priests lead the Church across the country, and missionary institutes have shifted toward collaboration rather than control.

This historical trajectory — from missionary implantation to local ownership — has shaped a confident Church. Catholic institutions in education and health care are not peripheral supplements; they are pillars of national infrastructure.

The historical memory of missionary sacrifice and local perseverance still informs Catholic identity in Cameroon. Papal visits are therefore received not as external interventions but as moments of communion within an already mature ecclesial body.

4. Education and health: The Church as social architect

Few institutions in Cameroon rival the Catholic Church in educational reach. Catholic primary and secondary schools are widespread, often regarded for discipline and academic performance. The Church also sponsors tertiary institutions and teacher training colleges.

Health care is similarly significant. Catholic hospitals and clinics serve urban centers and remote areas alike. In regions where public health systems are strained, Catholic Church-run facilities frequently fill service gaps.

This social footprint gives the Catholic Church influence but also responsibility. It must negotiate regulatory frameworks, maintain quality standards, and manage financial sustainability.

This also means that papal messaging on social justice, youth formation, and health care ethics resonates concretely rather than abstractly.

In Cameroon, the Church’s credibility is measured as much by service delivery as by liturgical vitality.

5. Political engagement and social commentary

Cameroon’s Catholic bishops have consistently engaged in public discourse on governance, elections, corruption, and national unity. Pastoral letters issued around electoral cycles often emphasize transparency, accountability, and peaceful participation.

This engagement places the Catholic Church in a delicate position. While she does not function as a political party, she operates as a moral voice. Her statements can attract both public support and governmental scrutiny.

The Anglophone crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions — marked by tension between separatist groups and state forces — has intensified the Church’s mediating role. Bishops in affected regions, particularly in Bamenda, have appealed for dialogue and protection of civilians.

Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Bamenda is therefore not merely ceremonial. It unfolds against a backdrop of social fragility and political complexity. Any public remarks in that region will be closely analyzed for diplomatic nuance.

6. Vocations, seminaries, and local clergy formation

Cameroon is considered one of the more vocally productive Churches in Central Africa. Major seminaries in the country train diocesan clergy, and religious congregations attract local candidates.

The presence of Indigenous clergy has allowed the Church to contextualize liturgy, catechesis, and pastoral strategy. Inculturation — integrating elements of local culture within Catholic worship and life — has developed within the framework permitted by universal Church norms.

However, vocations also present governance challenges: ensuring adequate formation, preventing clericalism, and addressing global concerns about safeguarding and accountability. As elsewhere, the Cameroonian Church must navigate expectations of transparency and ethical leadership.

A papal visit often includes meetings with clergy and religious. In Cameroon, such encounters are likely to reinforce standards of pastoral responsibility and ecclesial communion.

7. Diversity: Linguistic, cultural, and religious pluralism

Cameroon is frequently described as “Africa in miniature” due to its linguistic and cultural diversity. The country officially operates in both French and English, with numerous Indigenous languages in daily use.

This diversity shapes ecclesial life. The Church must minister across Francophone and Anglophone regions, urban and rural contexts, and varied ethnic identities. Liturgies may incorporate local languages and music while maintaining doctrinal unity.

Religiously, Cameroon is pluralistic. Alongside Catholics are Protestants, Pentecostals, Muslims, and adherents of traditional religions. Inter-Christian competition — particularly with rapidly growing Pentecostal movements — poses pastoral challenges. The Catholic Church must articulate its identity in an environment where charismatic worship and prosperity preaching attract large followings.

Interreligious coexistence with Muslim communities, particularly in northern regions, remains a factor in national stability. The Church has often collaborated with Muslim leaders to promote peace and counter extremism.

For Pope Leo XIV, this pluralistic setting requires calibrated messaging — affirming Catholic identity without undermining interreligious harmony.

Yaoundé: Political and ecclesial nerve center

The capital, Yaoundé, is more than an administrative stop. It is the seat of government and the archdiocese that frequently hosts national Catholic events. Meetings with civil authorities are likely to occur here, reflecting the Vatican’s diplomatic engagement with the Cameroonian state.

Historically, Yaoundé has hosted major ecclesial gatherings and international visitors. A papal Mass in the capital would draw large crowds and symbolize national unity.

Douala: Economic pulse and urban Catholicism

Douala, as Cameroon’s commercial capital, presents a different pastoral profile. Rapid urbanization, youth unemployment, migration, and informal economies characterize the city. The Church in Douala must address urban pastoral issues: catechesis in dense neighborhoods, youth outreach, and social advocacy.

The Archdiocese of Douala has been vocal on national issues, and its leadership has often carried moral authority beyond ecclesiastical boundaries.

A papal stop in Douala situates the Church within the country’s economic heart, where questions of inequality and development are acute.

Bamenda: Faith amid instability

Bamenda lies at the epicenter of the Anglophone crisis. Parishes in the region have experienced disruptions, and clergy have navigated security risks. The Church has called for dialogue, ceasefire, and protection of civilians.

A papal presence in Bamenda carries symbolic weight. It signals solidarity with communities affected by violence and underscores the Vatican’s concern for peace.

However, such a visit must balance encouragement with diplomatic caution. Explicit political statements could complicate local dynamics, while silence might disappoint those seeking moral clarity.

Continuity with past papal engagement

Cameroon has previously hosted a papal visit. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI visited the country, marking a major ecclesial event that included the promulgation of the Instrumentum Laboris for the Second Synod for Africa. That visit reinforced Cameroon’s role within the continental Church.

Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 journey will inevitably be compared with past papal engagements. Expectations will be shaped by memory: large public liturgies, strong doctrinal messages, and calls for ethical governance.

A Church of scale, influence, and responsibility

If Algeria represents the Church as historical memory and minority witness, Cameroon represents scale, institutional density, and public influence. The Catholic Church in Cameroon is not fragile in numbers; it is substantial. Its challenges are not invisibility but responsibility — how to steward influence in a politically sensitive and religiously competitive environment.

From April 15–18, as Pope Leo XIV moves through Yaoundé, Douala, and Bamenda, he will engage a Church that is confident yet tested, numerous yet diverse, socially influential yet morally scrutinized.

For observers of African Catholicism, Cameroon offers a case study in how demographic strength intersects with political engagement and social service. The papal visit will not redefine that structure overnight. It will, however, place it within the broader narrative of a global Church attentive to Africa not as periphery but as center.

In that sense, Cameroon stands not only as the second stop on the Holy Father’s itinerary, but as a microcosm of the contemporary African Catholic experience — complex, vibrant, and consequential.

Source: aci Africa

3, March 2026

Archbishop Nkea says the Holy Father is coming as a Pastor, not a politician ⁰

Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea, Archbishop of Bamenda and President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (CENC), has spoken to Vatican News about the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon, scheduled from April 15 to April 18, 2026.

Speaking from Bamenda, capital of the North West region and one of the main epicentres of the Anglophone crisis, the prelate said expectations surrounding the visit are high. The Pope is due to travel to Yaoundé, Douala and Bamenda. The city has been affected by violence since late 2016, when a separatist conflict emerged from professional grievances raised by teachers and lawyers.

Archbishop Nkea said the Pope’s decision to visit the region despite ongoing tensions carries strong symbolic significance. “It is significant that the Holy Father chose not to wait for tensions to subside but to come while the situation remains volatile,” he said, adding that the local Church has warmly welcomed the decision.

A tense sociopolitical climate

The visit comes against the backdrop of tensions following the October 2025 presidential election. It also takes place amid continuing secessionist demands in the North West and South West regions, as well as recurring attacks by armed groups in the Far North.

Addressing political interpretations prompted by the announcement, the Archbishop of Bamenda stressed the spiritual nature of the trip. He said the Pope is not coming as a politician or merely as a head of state, but merely as a pastor and a man of God.

Beyond the Catholic community, the visit is widely seen as a message to the nation at a time when efforts to ease sociopolitical tensions remain challenging. Archbishop Nkea described Pope Leo XIV as an ambassador of peace and an apostle of reconciliation.

In a context marked by continuing instability in the Far North, North West and South West, the papal visit is expected to serve as a pastoral gesture and a sign of solidarity with populations affected by the crises.

Source: Sbbc

25, February 2026

Pope Leo to visit Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala from April 15 to 18 ⁰

Pope Leo XIV will visit four African nations in April, the Vatican said Thursday, including Algeria – the first time a pope will travel to the North African Muslim nation.

The Vatican announced a series of international trips in the months ahead for the US pontiff, who was elected last year, including to Spain and Monaco.

But the official trip to Algeria, which will see Leo visit Algiers and Annaba from April 13 to 15, will be particularly symbolic.

Algeria is the birthplace of the fifth-century St Augustine and the pope belongs to the Augustinian order, which was founded in the 13th century.

Islam is the state religion but the constitution guarantees freedom of worship, subject to approval by the authorities for the place of worship and the preacher.

Leo’s visit, which is expected to focus on interfaith dialogue, comes 30 years after the beheading of seven French Trappist monks from a monastery during the 1990s civil war.

The head of the Catholic Church will then visit Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

Leo will visit Yaounde, Bamenda and Douala from April 15 to 18, then Luanda, Muxima and Saurimo between April 18 and 21, before travelling to Malabo, Mongomo and Bata between April 21 and 23.

The pope is likely to appeal for peace and dialogue while in Angola and Cameroon, where long-running separatist struggles continue to kill civilians.

Monaco, Spain

Before his trip to Africa, the pontiff will visit Monaco for a day, the Vatican said.

The visit to the principality on the French riviera will take place on March 28 and will be the first papal trip to the city state in modern times.

A statement from the principality in the name of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene said it would be “a historic moment for Monaco and stand as a strong sign of hope, in a spirit of dialogue, peace, and shared responsibility”.

Leo will also visit Spain from June 6 to 12.

The Vatican News website said he would first visit the capital Madrid, and then travel to Barcelona, where he will inaugurate the newest and tallest tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica.

The visit marks 100 years since the death of its Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudi, who was declared “venerable” by the Catholic Church in 2025, the first step on the path to sainthood.

Leo will then travel to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of West Africa, a key point on the migration route to Europe.

The American pope, who became head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in May, is a vocal defender of migrants, an issue which was also dear to his predecessor Pope Francis.

While in the Canary Islands, Leo will visit Tenerife and Gran Canaria, Vatican News said.

The announcements of the trips follow news the pope will visit a series of areas within Italy in the coming months, including the island of Lampedusa.

Source: AFP

23, February 2026

John Ashu Agboreyong: a man of God counting years and counting impact @60 ⁰

English speaking Cameroonians have always stated that at 60, a man does not merely count years but he also counts impact. Over the weekend in the beautiful city of Cork, Ireland, Africans rose in gratitude, celebration and honoured a true shepherd of souls and a teacher of truth as he marked his 60^th birthday and unveiled six new books that will bless humanity forever.

His journey towards HIM started in Mamfe the chief town in Manyu Division. He conquered education home and abroad and for six remarkable decades, this Cameroonian citizen has embodied faith with decency and decorum, preached the Word with conviction, and lived his calling with unwavering devotion. The life of Apostle John Ashu Agboreyong is a testimony that spreading the good news is not just what happens on a pulpit; it is what flows from a heart fully surrendered to divine purpose.

His ministry has gone through thick and thin sailing through seasons of abundance and adversity. But this man who migrated from Cameroon in West Africa to Ireland and took up residence in Cork City from where he gets on a regular basis what the Irish have painted as Ceol na mara (music of the sea) has stood firm.

To be sure, John Ashu Agboreyong has comforted the broken-hearted, counselled the weary, challenged the complacent, and inspired God’s children to rise higher. Deep within the African-Irish community in the Irish State, his voice has carried hope into homes, clarity into confusion and above all, light into dark places.

Turning 60 is no small milestone!! In the words of the great Professor Bernard Fonlon, it is a crown of wisdom manufactured by experience that speaks of battles fought in prayer, tears shed in intercession and homilies prepared in the quiet hours of dawn with countless unseen sacrifices made for the sake of others. Turning 60 is indeed a journey walked closely with God, guided not by popularity but by purpose.

As if to say his kinsman, the late Cameroonian poet Dr Bate Besong did not do anything!! And as if to say the celebration of his diamond jubilee were not enough, he launched six new books—six fresh wells of insight, revelation, and spiritual nourishment. John Ashu Agboreyong’s works are not merely ink on paper. To be accurate, they are years of encounters with God documented and life lessons carefully articulated. Each page carries the imprint of a life committed to truth and transformation.

Authors such as Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe wrote from knowledge; theologians like the late Pope Benedict wrote from experience. John Ashu Agboreyong’s books are the fruit of both. The six publications will forever strengthen leaders, renew people, uplift Christian movements and ignite faith. We of the Cameroon Concord News Group believe and fervently too that the books are gifts to the Christian Church and a legacy to generations yet unborn.

At sixty, Ola Rotimi who authored the book “the Gods are not to blame” slowed down. John Ashu Agboreyong is accelerating!! At 60 when many with ink in their blood are reflecting on what has been, John Ashu Agboreyong is boldly building what will be. His vision still remains sharp. His passion burning bright! His faith undiminished. Time has not weakened his calling—it has refined it.

Those who answered present in Cork City did not just celebrate a birthday; they all celebrated a life poured out in service. They celebrated a voice that refuses to be silent. They celebrated a man of God who has proven that greatness in the Kingdom is measured not by applause, but by obedience.

May John Ashu Agboreyong’s birthday celebration usher in even greater grace, expanded influence, renewed strength, and multiplied impact. May the six books launched in Cork City travel farther than he ever imagined, touching hearts across nations and generations.

Joyeux anniversaire to a true man of God—a builder of lives, a carrier of light, and a living testament that faithfulness over time produces fruit that remains. The best chapters, we believe, are still being written.

To this I put my name

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

21, February 2026

Bishop Nkuo says Kumbo is not a battlefield or a slaughter slab ⁰

Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo in Cameroon’s war-torn North West region has denounced a decade of violence that has plagued Cameroon’s two English-speaking North West and South West regions.

The two regions have since 2016 been embroiled in conflict, with separatists fighting to break away from the rest of the country and form a new nation to be called Ambazonia.

The crisis was triggered by a harsh government crackdown on teachers and lawyers from the two regions who were protesting the use of French in Anglo-Saxon schools and courts. But Cameroon’s English-speaking minorities have always voiced historical grievances, complaining about the systematic erosion of their culture and way of life by the predominantly French-speaking government.

Ten years of fighting have left at least 6500 people dead, and more than a million forced to flee from their homes.

In his Lenten letter, Nkuo laments that the conflict, marked by killings, abductions, and a new crisis of human trafficking, risks becoming “normalized” among a suffering population.

He said his diocese in particular has “endured ten painful years of conflict, fear, displacement, uncertainty, and deep sorrow,” and expressed fear that war could become normalized.

In his pastoral letter, titled “Return to Me with All Your Heart” (Joel 2:12), the Cameroonian bishop wrote, “For many in our land, every day has felt like Lent. Every day has carried ashes, and every day has carried tears, and yet Lent is not only about ashes. It is also about return and about conversion and about hope.”

He explained that this profound suffering has permeated every facet of life.

“Young and old. Christians and non-Christians. Catholics and non-Catholics. Farmers, teachers, catechists, traders, pupils, mothers, and fathers” have suffered, he said.

“We have witnessed killings, abductions, kidnappings, disappearances, burning of homes, looting, sexual violations, extortion, and constant fear. Entire villages have lived in anxiety. Schools have closed. Farms have been abandoned. Youth have fled,” the bishop added.

He warned that the region runs the risk of “getting used to what should never be normal.”

“Violence is never normal. The shedding of innocent blood is never acceptable,” Nkuo explained.

He made it clear that Kumbo Diocese “is not a battlefield,” nor is it a “slaughter slab where human beings are butchered, nor is it a training ground where soldiers train for war and by so doing get normal to the sounds and guns and missiles and explosives.”

While a decade of war has left a trail of death and destruction, it has also forged another crisis: Human trafficking.

Traffickers prey on the vulnerability of war-battered youth, forcing them into modern-day slavery. Nkuo describes this as “another grave wound” on the diocese, explaining that youths “are being lured with false promises of employment. Families are extorted for ransom. Some have disappeared into modern-day slavery.”

In comments to Crux, Lukong Isidore Njodzeven, the deputy Diocesan coordinator for the Justice and Peace Commission of the Kumbo Diocese, revealed that more than 3000 Cameroonians have been trafficked across the border to Nigeria.

He described the area around the Kumbo Diocese as “a catchment area” where traffickers find easy prey on desperate young people eager to escape from war and poverty to better their lives.

According to UNICEF reports, approximately 800,000 children were forced out of school due to the conflict.

“Moreover, the crisis has intensified poverty, further weakening resistance to trafficking and exploitation,” Njodzeven told Crux.

In his statement, Nkuo said the young people should be in classrooms and not in camps.

“They should be in farms and industries and not in bondage,” the bishop said.

“You are not forgotten. You are not disposable,” he told the youth.

“You are not destined for armed groups or trafficking camps. You are the future of this Diocese. You are the hope of this land,” Nkuo said.

He said that the process of healing will begin when forgiveness steps into the picture

“Let us choose gentleness. Let us choose courage. Let us choose peace,” he implored. “Many of us are tired, and many among us feel abandoned. But we must not lose hope. God is not finished with Kumbo.”

Speaking to Crux, the bishop said the ultimate solution to the conflict lies in “frank and sincere dialogue that should address the root causes of the crisis.”

“You cannot resolve a conflict without addressing the roots of that conflict,” Nkuo said.

Source: Crux

19, February 2026

Should Pope Leo Visit Cameroon? ⁰

Pope Leo plans to visit Cameroon shortly, although details of the controversial trip have not yet been confirmed by the Vatican. Questions are being raised about whether the Pope’s presence bestows legitimacy on the regime of 93-year-old President Paul Biya. In the nineth year of a vicious civil war, the Central African nation held an election last October which was considered neither free nor fair by respected monitoring groups. Biya remains in power after four decades at the helm of a country considered corrupt by Transparency International and other observers. Meanwhile, Amnesty International points to dozens of political prisoners held in appalling circumstances.

Does the Pope’s visit offer an opportunity for the Church to draw attention to the regime’s shortcomings, urging a change of direction, and a respect for human rights and democracy? PAV asked several Cameroonian civil society leaders for their views. Some names have been omitted to preserve their safety.

According to Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, winner of the International Women of Courage Award in 2021, “The Pope embodies the voice of the voiceless and intercedes with Jesus to end our suffering. That is why we are happy with the arrival of the Pope in Cameroon. His visit must be part of our reconciliation and social justice process. We ask Pope Leo to entrust the Virgin Mary to undo the knots of disagreement, establish mutual forgiveness, and talk to leaders in order to cultivate compromise.”

Madame Ngo Mbe draws attention to the truth and reconciliation process inspired by Pope Francis in the Central African Republic as an example of what can be achieved.

Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, senior associate at the National Democratic Institute in Washington DC agrees. “His Holiness is in a position to know the suffering and misery that Cameroonians have endured under the repressive and kleptocratic regime of a 93 years old autocrat. The world will be watching the Pope’s every step and every word to be sure the biblical downtrodden who constitute the vast majority of the Cameroonian population can find voice and a future while counting on the Holy Father.”

However, Paul (his last name is omitted for his security), who leads a development NGO, asks what the Pope hopes to achieve. “Is it to endorse the current system, encourage looting, the appropriation of resources by the system’s elites, violence, and political grudges? To help Cameroonians mourn the thousands of deaths resulting from conflicts in the Northwest and Southwest or post-electoral crises?”

Like Madame Ngo Mbe, Paul hopes Pope Leo will prompt a process of reconciliation and sustainable peace. “Knowing the regime’s ability to deceive everyone in order to maintain power and preserve its privileges, one fears that the visit might be nothing more than an endorsement, a blessing that the regime is seeking.”

Judith (last name omitted to protect her security), a Cameroonian Diaspora “seeking positive change back home and conflict resolution through dialogue”, urges the Pope not to visit Cameroon “at this fraught moment.” She continues, “If he does come, I pray he will speak with the moral clarity of our social teaching – affirming the dignity of every person, the primacy of the common good, and the duty of authority to serve the people – by urging the regime to respect the will of the electorate.”

Sharing Judith’s concerns is Serge Banyongen, professor of political science at the University of Ottawa. “If Pope Leo XIV visits Cameroon, he will be welcomed by ceremonies and carefully curated images of stability, in which the Yaoundé regime excels. Above all, the Pope must learn the truth about the suffering Church in Cameroon. Priests, religious, and lay faithful have been murdered, some in cold blood. Two bishops, Mgr. Balla and Mgr. Plummey, along with countless priests and nuns, have died in circumstances that were never credibly investigated. Their deaths remain wounds that have yet to heal. When the Catholic Church has spoken prophetically, calling for justice, dialogue, and reform, it has been humiliated, intimidated, and pressured into silence.”

Source: panafricanvisions