Pope Leo XIV urges “unarmed peace” in visit to Cameroon

(CWR, Yaounde) After landing at the Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airport, Pope Leo XVI headed directly to the Cameroon Presidential palace (the Unity Palace), where he met with Cameroon President Paul Biya.

Pope Leo, standing beside President Paul Biya, addressed a gathering of state authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps, delivering a message that cut through the polished veneer of diplomatic protocol to speak directly to the wounds of a nation and a world in crisis.

The Cameroon President, welcoming the Pontiff for his first tour of Africa since ascending the throne of St. Peter, spoke of a “privilege” and a moment of grace.

“Holy Father, it is with immense joy that I welcome you to this historic visit, the 4th of a supreme pontiff in Cameroon,” Biya said, referring to the visits of St. Pope John Paul II in 1985 and 1995, and Pope Benedict on March 20, 2009.

“The people of Cameroon are delighted with your visit and measure the rare privilege that is theirs to receive your holiness during your first tour in Africa, and this just a few months after your accession to the throne of Saint Peter. You are particularly grateful for this.”

Diplomatic niceties aside, Paul Biya did not shy away from the reality of the times. He spoke of a world “shaken by serious crises and conflicts,” where economic misery and anxiety strain the hearts of peoples.

“Indeed, the world is shaken by more and more serious crises and conflicts that have caused death and desolation. States are in the throes of growing economic difficulties. Misery spreads. Suffering afflicts entire peoples,” Biya said.

The President spoke about a humanity “carried by the whirlwind of our ambitions, of our pretensions, of our hatred and of our intolerance,” explaining that these negatives were leading to fading hope.

“Yes, Your Holiness, humanity desperately needs hope,” Biya said.

“Hope in a new world, a world where the voice of dialogue will replace the voice of arms, a world where the immense resources devoted to war will serve to promote the well-being of peoples. You have chosen from the beginning of your pontificate to bear this message. “

He emphasized that Cameroon, a country where multiple religions coexist peacefully, stands ready to listen to the Pope’s “refreshing and vivifying source” of harmony. For Biya, the visit was a validation of his government’s efforts to seek solutions to internal crises through dialogue rather than division, and an acknowledgment of the Catholic Church’s historic role in the nation’s education and health sectors.

Pope Leo, describing Cameroon as “Africa in miniature” due to its rich traditions, cultures, and diversity of language, argued that such variety was not a weakness but “a solid foundation for building lasting peace.”

However, the Pontiff quickly turned to the stark realities facing the country. He directly addressed the “complex difficulties” and “profound suffering” caused by violence in the Northwest, Southwest, and Far North regions.

While the Far North region has been reeling from Boko Haram attacks since 2016, the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions have been embroiled in a separatist conflict for the past ten years-a conflict that has led to the deaths of at least 6500 people, according to the International Crisis Group, and the displacement of over a million others. It’s also left more than 1.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.

Fighting broke out in the two regions in 2016 when Anglophone teachers and lawyers took to the streets to protest the use of French in Anglo-Saxon schools and courts. The government took a hard line. This triggered the growth of a hardline separatist movement that has since taken up arms against the state in an effort to force the two regions to secede and form a new nation to be called Ambazonia.

“Behind the numbers are the faces, stories, and shattered hopes of real people,” Pope Leo said. He reiterated his global cry for an end to conflict, stating, “The world is thirsting for peace… Enough of war, with all the pain it causes through death, destruction, and exile!”

The Pope defined peace not merely as the absence of weapons, but as a way of life.

“Peace cannot be decreed: it must be embraced and lived,” he told the gathered officials, including President Paul Biya, who will be 99 years old when his current seven-mandate concludes in 2032.

He urged leaders to reject a peace based on fear or threats, choosing instead a peace founded on love and justice.

In a challenging segment of his speech, Pope Leo invoked the writings of Saint Augustine to redefine the nature of authority.

“Those who rule serve those whom they seem to command,” he quoted, reminding the authorities that governance is a duty of mercy, not an exercise of pride.

He emphasized that serving the country requires dedication to the common good of both the majority and the minorities, warning that corruption “disfigures authority and strips it of credibility.”

The Holy Father called for transparency and respect for the rule of law, urging a “bold leap forward” to restore trust and build institutions that serve as bridges rather than sources of division.

The Supreme Pontiff placed significant emphasis on the vital role of civil society, particularly women, whom he hailed as “tireless peacemakers.”

He argued that women’s voices must be recognized in decision-making processes to help curb abuses of power and rebuild the social fabric.

He issued a strong appeal regarding the nation’s youth. Describing young people as the “hope of the country,” he warned that unemployment and social exclusion can lead to violence, apathy, and exploitation.

“Investing in the education, training, and entrepreneurship of young people is a strategic choice for peace,” the Pope asserted.

He framed such investment as the only way to stop the “outflow of wonderful talent” to other parts of the world and to combat social ills.

Leo expressed the Catholic Church’s commitment to collaborating with the state and all people of goodwill to foster human dignity and reconciliation.

The Holy Father then proceeded to visit an orphanage in Cameroon’s capital before holding an on-camera meeting with the country’s bishops.

On April 16, Pope Leo will head to Bamenda, the epicenter of the separatist conflict, where he is set to meet with various conflict stakeholders to discuss peace and reconciliation in society. On April 17, he will be in the country’s economic capital to address issues of youth employment, migration, and the various ills afflicting the country’s young people.