May the visit of Pope Leo XIV offer an opportunity to release prisoners held without trial. Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala expressed this wish during a press conference on April 9. “The Pope is coming to proclaim the Good News to us,” said Archbishop Kleda. “What is the Good News for us in Cameroon?” he asked. “It is peace. At this moment, we all need peace in Cameroon. With his visit, the Pope is inviting us all to be peacemakers,” he continued. “The Pope is coming to proclaim the Good News to us in Cameroon.” “Our country has experienced many crises, some of which are still ongoing,” the Archbishop emphasized, indicating that he was referring to the conflict in the English-speaking regions “The benefit we hope to gain from this visit is to engage (…) as peacemakers.”

 In addition to the crisis in the English-speaking regions in the north and south of the eastern part of the country, Cameroon is experiencing a deep economic crisis, to which Archbishop Kleda alluded when he stated: “Too many people are suffering, too many people are unemployed. After the Pope’s visit, we have the opportunity to show that we are capable of transforming our country.” Also worrying is the political situation following the unrest after the presidential elections last October, in which 92-year-old Paul Biya was re-elected for the eighth time as Head of State – an election marred by serious irregularities, according to the opposition and various external observers. Several people were arrested during the post-election demonstrations, particularly in Douala, which was the epicenter of the protests. Archbishop Kleda also referred to these people.

 “There was a crisis after the elections, resulting in the arrest of many people. Some of them have been released, but many are still in prison. Those imprisoned also include people who have never been brought to trial.” “This is an opportunity,” the Archbishop said, referring to the Pope’s visit, “to work to change this situation and do everything we can to secure the release of our brothers,” declared the Archbishop of Douala. Archbishop Kleda also referred to these people. “This is the fourth time the Pope has come to Cameroon. That is a special blessing,” said Archbishop Kleda, referring to the Pope’s previous visits to the country before Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope. “The fact is that we are not saints, that we have not succeeded in putting the Gospel into practice. The Pope’s current visit is a new opportunity for renewal and for ensuring that our society can live in peace,” the Archbishop emphasized. “This means that the common good, that is, the country’s resources, must be shared with everyone, according to the needs of each individual, as the Acts of the Apostles teaches us.” But to achieve this, it is necessary to fight corruption, which Archbishop Kleda described as “a huge problem” because “it destroys everything and prevents the country’s development.” “May each of us be ready for conversion and to stand up for justice,” he concluded.

Source: Agenzia Fides

A separatist alliance in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions said it would observe a three-day “safe travel passage” later this week to allow civilians and visitors to move freely during a visit by Pope ‌Leo.

The pope left on Monday for a tour of four African countries – Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea – aiming to urge global leaders to address the continent’s challenges. Africa is home to more than a fifth of the world’s Catholics.

Source: Reuters

At 97 years of age, Pa Chrysantus Nfor sits quietly at his Nkwen residence in Bamenda, his frame slightly frail, but his eyes fixed on a horizon of hope.

He has traveled from his hometown in Tabenken, Donga Mantung Division – a district to the northwest of the city – to Bamenda, not this time on the arduous trek he undertook nearly four decades ago, but to seek medical treatment.

Surrounded by children and grandchildren, the nonagenarian finds himself waiting for something far more miraculous than medicine. He is waiting to see the pope.

Pope Leo XVI is expected in Cameroon from April 15 to 18. That visit is stirring excitement across the nation. Pa Nfor stands out as a veteran of papal expeditions, having witnessed the visits of Pope John Paul II in 1985 and 1995; Pope Benedict in 2009, and could witness his fourth papal visit when Pope Leo comes calling.

“I heard that the Pope is coming to Bamenda again, so I have just been waiting that if he comes, then I may likely see him too as well,” Pa Nfor told Crux Now in a shaky but firm voice.

He recalls the historic visit of Pope John Paul II in 1985 with the vividness of yesterday. But the memory of that visit is not just about the arrival of a pontiff; it is about the journey it took to witness the event.

Pa Nfor was about 56 years old then. He recalls the priest for Tabenken at the time putting out a call for volunteers to travel to Bamenda to greet the pope. While many hesitated due to the daunting distance, Nfor stepped forward.

The journey was a test of endurance that few would volunteer for today. The group left Tabenken by vehicle to Kumbo, where they spent the night. But the real pilgrimage began at dawn. They walked from Kumbo to Babessi, then to Ndop, then to Bambui, and finally to the Bafut Airport, where the pope was to land.

They trekked for over 62.14 miles, but Pa Nfor insists the physical weight of the journey was lightened by their spiritual purpose.

“We were praying, we were singing. That was the main thing we were doing,” he recalls. But there was a physical burden as well. Pa Nfor was one of the chosen few who carried a heavy wooden cross along the route, symbolizing the faith they held in their hearts.

Reflecting on that trek today, surrounded by his children and grandchildren who have come to support him during his treatment, Pa Nfor believes that journey was a turning point for his life. He notes that many of those who trekked with him have since passed away, but he has remained standing.

“I don’t know whether it is the cross I carried that has made me live up to now,” he humbly admits. But the fruits of that journey are evident to him.

“Since I took the trek to Bamenda and back, my family and I are still here… No trouble in the house. No quarreling as a father and the children. I feel that journey, meeting the pope has been a blessing to me,” he said.

Today, the trek has been replaced by a different kind of waiting. Pa Nfor is suffering from breathing difficulties, back pain, and frequent urination— ailments that have worn him down. His hope for the visit of Pope Leo XVI is simple and profound: That healing may come.

“As a patient, that’s the main thing I pray for,” he says. “I think the main thing he can do for me is to pray for me for a long life and good health.”

“I would be grateful to God if I live up to 100 years,” he adds, putting up a smile that momentarily shades the pain he is going through.

However, his vision extends beyond his own health. As Cameroon grapples with internal turmoil, particularly the separatist crisis that for ten years now has resulted in the deaths of at least 6,500 people and the displacement of nearly a million others, Pa Nfor sees the Papal visit as a potential balm for the nation.

“I have a feeling that if the Pope should reach here, this trouble in Cameroon would end,” he says with quiet conviction.

Pa Nfor, however, wonders if the spirit of sacrifice that fueled his 1985 journey still exists in his children and grandchildren.

” The young children, they cannot do it because they expect money,” he muses.

“If somebody is doing anything that should affect them, they should get money. They cannot just travel like that,” Pa Nfor said.

Despite the changing times, his advice to the youth and his family remains anchored in the faith that carried him from Kumbo to Bafut all those years ago. He urges them to look past their screens and their desire for material gain.

“They should all believe in God,” he advises. “If somebody hears that the Pope is coming, they should also come to see the Pope. And then get the prayer which the Pope gives to people.”

“Let them turn off the screens and make the trip,” he continues.

As Bamenda prepares to roll out the red carpet for Pope Leo XVI, Pa Chrysantus Nfor will be there, not carrying a cross this time, but bearing the weight of nearly a century of faith and the hope that a prayer from the Holy Father will bring healing to his body and peace to his country.

Source: Crux

The Government of Cameroon has declared full readiness for the planned Apostolic Visit of Pope Leo XIV, scheduled to take place from April 15 to 18.

Speaking during a press briefing that was held on Wednesday, April 8 in Yaoundé, the Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, René Emmanuel Sadi, assured journalists that all necessary arrangements had been finalized to guarantee the success of the four-day papal visit.

“A few days ahead of the coming of His Holiness to our country, I can assure you that all is ready to ensure that this Apostolic Visit of Pope Leo XIV takes place under optimal conditions, guaranteeing every success,” Sadi said.

He added, “The people of Cameroon as a whole are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the Supreme Pontiff in our country, to express their joy and enthusiasm to host him on their soil.”

“All necessary arrangements have been made, under the esteemed auspices of the President Paul Biya, to provide an exceptional welcome to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and to ensure every success to his Apostolic Visit to Cameroon,” the Government Spokesperson said.

The Minister highlighted the longstanding ties between Cameroon and the Holy See, noting that the Apostolic Visit represents a historic milestone for the central African country.

“Our bilateral and spiritual relations, formally established in 1966, continue to bear fruit today in education, healthcare, and social development,” Sadi said.

He emphasized the Church’s contribution to the nation, saying, “The Catholic Church operates an extensive network of high-quality educational institutions nationwide and numerous hospitals, often serving remote or underprivileged populations. Its work demonstrates the social significance of Catholicism in Cameroon.”

The government official also highlighted the religious harmony in the country, saying, “Catholicism coexists peacefully and in perfect harmony with other religious denominations present across the national territory.”

Pope Leo XIV is expected to arrive in Cameroon on April 15 on the second stage of his four-nation African trip. After a welcome ceremony at the Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport, he is to meet the country’s President and address authorities, civil society leaders, and diplomats.

The Holy Father will visit the Ngul Zamba Orphanage and meet privately with members of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC).

During his time in Cameroon, the Holy Father is expected to place particular emphasis on reconciliation and social healing. On Thursday, April 16, he will travel to Bamenda, where he is scheduled to hold a “Meeting for Peace” with the local community at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral and celebrate Mass at Bamenda International Airport.

The Papal visit to Bamenda carries symbolic significance given the region’s experience of political and social tensions in recent years.

On Friday, April 17, the Pontiff will visit Douala, where he is scheduled to preside over a large Eucharistic celebration at Japoma Stadium. The program also includes a private visit to Saint Paul Catholic Hospital and a dialogue with university students and professors at the Catholic University of Central Africa (UCAC).

He is expected to leave Cameroon on April 18 for the third leg of his trip, which is to take him to Angola.

Source: aciAfrica

The official vehicle of Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Cameroon, marking a key milestone in preparations for the Holy Father’s planned Apostolic visit scheduled for April 15–18.

The vehicle, widely known as the “Popemobile” and bearing the registration SCV 1, landed on Wednesday, April 8, in the afternoon via a special cargo flight at Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport.

A Boeing 777F operated by MSC Air Cargo transported the vehicle from abroad.

The Popemobile,short for Status Civitatis Vaticanae (State of Vatican City), will be used by the Holy Father during the various stages of his visit, including stops in Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Douala.

Selected Archbishops from these cities may have the privilege of accompanying the Pope in the vehicle.

The vehicle was officially received at the airport by the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Archbishop José Avelino Bettencourt, alongside the Local Ordinary of Yaoundé, Archbishop Jean Mbarga.

This marks the fourth time the Popemobile has been brought to Yaoundé, following previous papal visits in 1985, 1995, and 2009.

While the Popemobile used during this visit appears to be an American-made model—possibly a Chevrolet, GMC, or Cadillac—it differs from the Pope’s primary vehicle at the Vatican, a fully electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class Electric (G580). That model, originally offered to Pope Francis in 2024, reflects the Vatican’s commitment to environmental sustainability and has been used in several recent public appearances, including a visit to Monaco.

Although the exact cost of a modern Popemobile is not publicly disclosed, base models like the electric G-Class are estimated to exceed 115 million FCFA (US$204,871.24). These customized vehicles are typically donated and built on high-end SUV platforms.

Pope Leo XIV is expected to arrive in Cameroon on April 15 on the second stage of his four-nation African trip. After a welcome ceremony at the Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport, he is to meet the country’s President and address authorities, civil society leaders, and diplomats.

The Holy Father is also to visit the Ngul Zamba Orphanage and meet privately with members of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC).

During his time in Cameroon, the Holy Father is expected to place particular emphasis on reconciliation and social healing. On Thursday, April 16, he is to travel to Bamenda, where he is scheduled to hold a “Meeting for Peace” with the local community at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral and celebrate Mass at Bamenda International Airport.

The Papal visit to Bamenda carries symbolic significance given the region’s experience of political and social tensions in recent years.

On Friday, April 17, the Pontiff is to visit Douala, where he is scheduled to preside over a large Eucharistic celebration at Japoma Stadium. The program also includes a private visit to Saint Paul Catholic Hospital and a dialogue with university students and professors at the Catholic University of Central Africa (UCAC).

He is expected to leave Cameroon on April 18 for the third leg of his trip, which is to take him to Angola.

Source: aciAfrica

Beyond hopes for spiritual renewal and reconciliation in a country fractured by violence, Pope Leo XVI’s planned visit to Cameroon has sparked what the Archbishop of Bamenda describes as “an infrastructure miracle.”

In a wide-ranging interview on PRC TV – a channel affiliated with the Presidency of the Republic that broadcasts news about presidential activities – Archbishop Andrew Nkea stated that the papal visit has served as an unmatched catalyst for socio-economic and infrastructural development in Bamenda. This city, where nearly all development had stalled – either due to the ongoing separatist conflict or government neglect – has experienced significant progress.

The archbishop marveled at the “miraculous” transformation taking place, including the construction of new highways, the installation of running water in areas that lacked it for decades, and the historic reopening of the Bamenda airport after six years of inactivity.

“I am Archbishop of Bamenda, and what I am seeing here is nothing short of a miracle,” Nkea said.

“Highways are being built, roads in the quarters are being constructed.”  He said since the Bamenda Archdiocese was opened in 1970, there has never been a sustainable source of water for the bishops’ residence that happens to be found on a hill.

“All of a sudden, water is going up to my hill,”  Nkea said, thanks to the coming of  Pope Leo.

Terrence Shey Tume, a motorcycle rider in Bamenda, told Crux Now that for years, riding his bike through the streets of Bamenda was a nightmare.

“Roads were filled with potholes. I could spend a whole day and not make up to 5,000 CFA (about $8.) This has changed. The roads are so smooth that one can close his eyes and still ride his bicycle,” he said.

And with approximately 650,000 people expected to attend the Bamenda stop of the visit, along with at least 750 priests and bishops, the hotel sector is also on the rise.

Nkea said that for the first time in seven years, a plane will land at Bamenda airport.

“The pope will not carry all these roads, water, hotels and other development projects back to Rome,” the archbishop said.

“Bamenda people will benefit from these roads, because when the pope goes, these roads will remain with us,” he added.

The archbishop recently distributed helmets to bikers in Bamenda because he fears that the good roads might become a source of danger.

“In late January, I met with motorcycle taxi operators to emphasize the need for collaboration during the construction works, highlighting that these roads are a permanent legacy for the community. We also distributed safety helmets, recognizing that improved infrastructure often leads to higher speeds and a greater risk of falling. We urged the riders to use the helmets to prevent head injuries on the tarmac,” the archbishop said.

The pope’s effect is also felt in other areas he will visit.

Cameroonians, witnessing such a transformation, have been vocal in their praise, with some telling Crux Now that it would be great if the pope visited Cameroon every year.

“It will become our development blueprint since our government has always failed to develop even the basics to make life better for us,” Assumpta Demse, a member of the Catholic Women’s Association told Crux Now.

Pope Leo will visit Bamenda, the capital of the war-torn North West region, during his stay in Cameroon, where he will meet with religious and traditional leaders as well as civil society members to discuss justice and peace. In Douala, the economic capital, he will meet with youth to address issues of unemployment and migration. In Yaoundé, he will meet with government officials to talk about good governance.

A visit unlike others

Although the improved infrastructure definitely creates a celebratory mood among the citizens, the pope’s visit, according to Mgr. William Neba, General Coordinator of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Bamenda, signifies something larger than just an ordinary Apostolic visit.

In a letter dated April 2, 2026, sent to the bishops, clergy, religious, and lay members of the Bamenda Catholic Church, Father William Neba highlighted the seriousness of the moment.

“This visit is not just like any other Apostolic Visit… but this one has significant overtones, especially for us in this province, when we look back on what we have gone through for the past nine years and are still going through today,” he said.

“The Holy Father shall celebrate Holy Mass for Peace and Justice at the Bamenda International Airport,” Neba added.

The archbishop of Bamenda had recently come under intense scrutiny for emphasizing the need for a return to peace: He overlooked the importance of justice.

By including the word justice in his April 2 letter, Neba suggests that Pope Leo might be more interested in addressing the root causes of the conflict, and “the Peace and Justice our Province has been longing for… may become a reality.”

Source: Crux