The Holy Father will ultimately spend several days in Cameroon before heading on to Angola and then Equatorial Guinea during his first apostolic journey to Africa.
Pope Leo XIV departs Bamenda, Cameroon, after celebrating Mass at the regional airport on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV spent his first full day in Cameroon on April 16 meeting with local Catholics and other officials, hosting a meeting for peace and saying Mass in the central African country.
The Holy Father will ultimately spend several days in Cameroon before heading on to Angola and then Equatorial Guinea during his first apostolic journey to Africa. The trip is scheduled to last through April 23.
Here is a look at the popeʼs activities in Cameroon:
Crowds greet Pope Leo XIV upon his arrival at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport in Cameroon on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Crowds greet Pope Leo XIV as he rides through Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV waves outside of St. Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds at St. Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, during a peace meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV leads a meeting for peace and reconciliation at St. Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV prays in adoration before the Eucharist in the Holy Sacrament Chapel of St. Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV leads a peace meeting at St. Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV releases a dove outside of St. Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV processes during Mass at Bamenda Airport in Cameroon on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Hundreds of Catholics pray at the Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV at Bamenda Airport in Cameroon on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV elevates the Eucharist during the papal Mass at Bamenda Airport in Cameroon on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets Catholics at Bamenda Airport in Cameroon on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds while departing Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!
Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.
Pope Leo XIV meets with members of the European Parliament’s Working Group on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue on Sept. 29, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Sep 29, 2025 / 14:52 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Mond… […]
Vatican City, Oct 5, 2018 / 06:06 am (CNA).- Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport said Thursday that the Church must discuss its sexual abuse crisis if it is to gain the trust of young people.
During his Oct. 4 speech at the 2018 Synod of Bishops, Cagg… […]
Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican, March 28, 2022. / Episkopat.pl.
Vatican City, Mar 28, 2022 / 08:30 am (CNA).
The president of Poland’s Catholic bishops’ conference raised his concerns about the German “Synod… […]
1 Comment
Africans are blessed with a lively faith. The men and women from the continent of Africa have the potential to evangelize the hungry seekers of spiritual joy in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
By 
Africans are blessed with a lively faith. The men and women from the continent of Africa have the potential to evangelize the hungry seekers of spiritual joy in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.