Pope Leo in Cameroon. Image: keystone
In view of wars and bloody conflicts in many parts of the world, Pope Leo XIV called for reconciliation during a visit to Cameroon.
April 16, 2026, 2:09 p.mApril 16, 2026, 2:16 p.m
In the city of Bamenda in the northwest of the West African country, the pontiff praised joint peace efforts by Christians and Muslims. A conflict with thousands of deaths between the government and separatists has been raging in the region since 2017. Hundreds of thousands were displaced. The religious communities are trying to mediate.
The head of the Catholic Church described this as an example for other regions in the world. «I would like this for so many places on earth. Blessed are the peaceable. “But woe to those who bend religions and even the name of God for their military, economic and political purposes and thereby drag the sacred into dirt and darkness.”
The Pope added: “The world is destroyed by a handful of tyrants and maintained by myriads of brothers and sisters in solidarity.” By myriads is meant a huge quantity. Leo didn’t make it any clearer in his speech. He also did not mention any countries or politicians by name.
Pope doesn’t want to be intimidated by the White House
In the past few days, the Pope has been criticized several times by US President Donald Trump following appeals for peace. However, the first American to lead 1.4 billion Catholics made it clear that he did not want to be intimidated by the White House.
For Leo, Cameroon is the second stop on an eleven-day trip to Africa after Algeria. At the start, he appealed to the government of long-term President Paul Biya on Wednesday to strive for peace. As one of the world’s longest-serving heads of state, the 93-year-old has been in power for more than four decades. A mass with tens of thousands of believers is also on the program in Bamenda on Thursday.
In Cameroon, it is estimated that around 40 percent of the 30 million inhabitants live in poverty. Opposition, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are severely restricted. More than half of the population in Cameroon is Christian. About a quarter belong to the Catholic faith. Around 20 percent profess Islam. (sda/dpa)