Thursday with Pope Leo XIV in Cameroon

 

Pope Leo presided over a Peace Meeting in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Bamenda  (@Vatican Media)

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• Cameroon
• peace
• war

Pope in Bamenda: ‘Woe to those who manipulate religion for military or political gain’

Speaking at a meeting dedicated to peace in Bamenda, Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV warns against the "masters of war" who pretend not to acknowledge that "it only takes a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild" and who spend billions on weapons but dedicate nothing to helping people heal.

By Kielce Gussie

In the midst of a pause in the ongoing violence in Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV travelled to Bamenda - an English-speaking city located in the northwestern part of the country - on his second day in Cameroon.

Read also

14/04/2026

Cameroon: Separatists announce pause of hostilities for Pope's visit

15/04/2026

Cameroonians hope Pope’s visit will 'bring healing' to a divided country

After meeting with local authorities at the airport, the Pope moved to the Cathedral of St. Joseph, which serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Bamenda. There, he met with the Community of Bamenda for a Meeting of Peace. Starting with a few moments of prayer in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Father and Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda entered the Cathedral.

Welcomed by a hymn and a greeting by the Archbishop, the peace meeting then heard the testimonies of the Supreme Traditional Chief of Mankon, Fon Fru Asaah Angwafor IV; the Emeritus Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Fonki Samuel Forba; the Imam of the Central Mosque of Buea, Mohammad Abubakar; a consecrated religious, Sister Carine Tangiri Mangu, Sister of St. Anne; and a family of internally displaced persons, Denis Salo, his wife, and their three children.

Here to proclaim peace

After hearing the testimonies, Pope Leo joined his voice to theirs and highlighted how their “lived experience of suffering” in community has strengthened their belief in God’s constant presence.

The Pope began by reflecting on Archbishop Fuanya’s words from the Prophet Isaiah: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace!” (Is 52:7). His response centered on the beauty of the Bamendan community’s feet “dusty from this bloodstained yet fertile land that has been mistreated, yet is rich in vegetation and fruit.”

Their feet have carried them far in spite of the challenges they have faced, and this community has “remained on the path of goodness.” Pope Leo expressed his gratitude for being welcomed to the city. “Because,” he stressed, “it is true: I am here to proclaim peace.” But, the Holy Father noted, the people of Bamenda have been proclaiming the message of peace to him.

You are the city on a hill

Turning back to one of the testimonies, he highlighted how the crisis affecting Cameroon (an ongoing armed conflict between Separatists and the government) has brought the Christian and Muslim communities closer together. “Indeed, your religious leaders have come together to establish a Movement for Peace, through which they seek to mediate between the opposing sides,” he pointed out.

Pope Leo shared his hope and desire that this could be possible in other places around the world. At the same time, he warned against people who “manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”

Read also

12/04/2026

CRS Cameroon: Faith in action

The Holy Father stressed that the people of Bamenda, in spite of this almost decade long conflict, are the light of the world as they hunger and thirst for justice. “Bamenda, today you are the city on the hill, resplendent in the eyes of all,” the Pope said, encouraging them not to lose hope.

Only takes one moment to destroy

Addressing those, especially lay and religious women, who care for individuals traumatized by violence, he offered a word of gratitude for their work, which often goes unnoticed and is also dangerous.

The “masters of war” pretend not to acknowledge that “it only takes a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild.” The Pope lamented how those in power turn a blind eye to the billions of dollars spent on killing and devastation, “yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found.”

People who take the resources from the African lands in turn use the money for weapons, “perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilization and death.” Pope Leo argued how this is an upside-down world and he urged everyone to denounce and reject this exploitation of God’s creation.

The Holy Father called for “a decisive change of course – a true conversion – that will lead us in the opposite direction, onto a sustainable path rich in human fraternity.” The world is “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters.”

Peace is not something to be invented. Rather, he stressed, it is something we discover when we embrace our neighbor as our brother or sister. Family is not something we choose, but people we must accept as we live together in the same common home.

Closing he recalled the words of Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium: “My mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of my life…that is the reason why I am here in this world” (no. 273). It is with this same heart and mission that Pope Leo explained he came to Bamenda.

Therefore, the Holy Father called each of us to be part of the silent revolution of walking together in our own vocations growing in concrete ways the mission of loving our neighbors. “As the Imam said, let us thank God that this crisis has not degenerated into a religious war, and that we are still trying to love one another.”

Pope Leo XIV in Bamenda Cameroon

Saint of the Day for Thursday

 

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Feastday: April 16
Patron: of illness, people ridiculed for their piety, poverty, shepherds, shepherdesses, and Lourdes, France
Birth: January 7, 1844
Death: April 16, 1879
Beatified: 1925
Canonized: by Pope Pius XI on December 1933

St. Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France on January 7, 1844. Her parents were very poor and she was the first of nine children. She was baptized at St. Pierre's, the local parish church, on January 9. As a toddler, Bernadette contracted cholera and suffered extreme asthma. Unfortunately, she lived the rest of her life in poor health.

On Thursday, February 11, 1858, fourteen-year-old Bernadette was sent with her younger sister and a friend to gather firewood, when a very beautiful lady appeared to her above a rose bush in a grotto called Massabielle (Tuta de Massavielha).

The woman wore blue and white and smiled at Bernadette before making the sign of the cross with a rosary of ivory and gold. Bernadette fell to her knees, took out her own rosary and began to pray. Bernadette later described the woman as "uo petito damizelo," meaning "a small young lady. Though her sister and friend claimed they were unable to see her, Bernadette knew what she saw was real.

Three days later, Bernadette, her sister Marie, and other girls returned to the grotto, where Bernadette immediately knelt, saying she could see "aquero" again. She fell into a trance and one girl threw holy water at the niche and another threw a rock that shattered on the ground. It was then that the apparition disappeared.

On February 18, Bernadette said "the vision" asked her to return to the grotto each day for a fortnight. With each visit, Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary and the period of daily visions became known as "la Quinzaine sacrée," meaning "holy fortnight."

When Bernadette began to visit the grotto, her parents were embarrassed and attempted to stop her, but were unable to do so. On February 25, Bernadette claimed to have had a life-changing vision.

The vision had told her "to drink of the water of the spring, to wash in it and to eat the herb that grew there" as an act of penance. The next day, the grotto's muddy waters had been cleared and fresh clear water flowed.

On March 2, at the thirteenth of the apparitions, Bernadette told her family the lady said "a chapel should be built and a procession formed."

During her sixteenth vision, which Bernadette claims to have experienced for over an hour, was on March 25. Bernadette claimed she had asked the woman her name, but her question was only met with a smile. Bernadette asked again, three more times, and finally the woman said, "I am the Immaculate Conception."

Though many townspeople believed she had indeed been seeing the Holy Virgin, Bernadette's story created a division in her town. Many believed she was telling the truth, while others believed she had a mental illness and demanded she be put in a mental asylum. Some believed Bernadette's visions meant she needed to pray for penance.

Church authorities and the French government rigorously interviewed the girl, and by 1862 they confirmed she spoke truth. Since Bernadette first caused the spring to produce clean water, 69 cures have been verified by the Lourdes Medical Bureau, and after what the Church claimed were "extremely rigorous scientific and medical examinations," no one was able to explain what caused the cures.

The Lourdes Commission that initially examined Bernadette, ran an analysis on the water but were only able to determine it contained a high mineral content. Bernadette believed it was faith and prayer that was responsible for curing the sick.

Bernadette asked the local priest to build a chapel at the site of her visions and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is now one of the major Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. Many other chapels and churches has been built around it, including the Basilica of St. Pius X, which can accommodate 25,000 people and was dedicated by the future Pope John XXIII when he was the Papal Nuncio to France.

Following the miracles and constructions, Bernadette decided she did not like the attention she was getting and went to the hospice school run by the Sisters of Charity of Nevers, where she was taught to read and write. Though she considered joining the Carmelites, her health was too fragile.

On July 29, 1866, Bernadette took the religious habit of a postulant and joined the Sisters of Charity at their motherhouse at Nevers. Her Mistress of Novices was Sister Marie Therese Vauzou and the Mother Superior at the time named her Marie-Bernarde, in honor of her grandmother.

Bernadette spent the rest of her life there working as an infirmary assistant, and later a sacristan. People admired her humility and spirit of sacrifice. Once a nun asked her if she had temptations of pride because she was favored by the Blessed Mother. "How can I?" she answered quickly. "The Blessed Virgin chose me only because I was the most ignorant."

Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the bone in her right knee and was unable to take part in convent life. She died in the Sainte Croix (Holy Cross) Infirmary of the Convent of Saint-Gildard at the age of 35 on April 16, 1879, while praying the holy rosary.

Even on her deathbed Bernadette suffered severe pain and, keeping with the Virgin Mary's admonition of "Penance, Penance, Penance," she proclaimed "all this is good for Heaven!" Bernadette's last words were, "Blessed Mary, Mother of God, pray for me. A poor sinner, a poor sinner."

The nuns of Saint-Gildard, with the support of the bishop of Nevers, applied to the civil authorities for permission to bury Bernadette's body in a small chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph, which was within the confines of the convent. Permission was granted on April 25, 1879, and on April 30, the local Prefect pronounced his approval of the choice of the site for burial. On May 30, 1879, Bernadette's coffin was transferred to the crypt of the chapel of Saint Joseph, where a very simple ceremony was held to commemorate the event.

Thirty years layer, on September 22, two doctors and a sister of the community exhumed her body. They claimed the crucifix and rosary she carried had been oxidized but her body remained incorrupt. The incorruption was cited as one of the miracles supporting her canonization.

The group washed and redressed Bernadette's body then buried it in a new double casket. The Church exhumed her body again on April 3, 1919, and the doctor who examined her said, "The body is practically mummified, covered with patches of mildew and quite a notable layer of salts, which appear to be calcium salts ... The skin has disappeared in some places, but it is still present on most parts of the body."

In 1925, Bernadette's body was exhumed yet again. This time relics were sent to Rome and an imprint of her face was molded, which was used to create a wax mask to be placed on her body. There were also imprints of her hands to be used for the presentation of her body, which was placed in a gold and crystal reliquary in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the mother house in Nevers.

In 1928, Doctor Comte published a report on Bernadette's exhumation in the second issue of the Bulletin de I'Association medicale de Notre-Dame de Lourdes, where he wrote:

"I would have liked to open the left side of the thorax to take the ribs as relics and then remove the heart which I am certain must have survived. However, as the trunk was slightly supported on the left arm, it would have been rather difficult to try and get at the heart without doing too much noticeable damage.

"As the Mother Superior had expressed a desire for the Saint's heart to be kept together with the whole body, and as Monsignor the Bishop did not insist, I gave up the idea of opening the left-hand side of the thorax and contented myself with removing the two right ribs which were more accessible.

"What struck me during this examination, of course, was the state of perfect preservation of the skeleton, the fibrous tissues of the muscles (still supple and firm), of the ligaments, and of the skin, and above all the totally unexpected state of the liver after 46 years. One would have thought that this organ, which is basically soft and inclined to crumble, would have decomposed very rapidly or would have hardened to a chalky consistency. Yet, when it was cut it was soft and almost normal in consistency. I pointed this out to those present, remarking that this did not seem to be a natural phenomenon."

Saint Bernadette is often depicted in prayer with a rosary or appealing to the Holy Virgin. She was beatified in 1925 and canonized by Pope Piuis XI in December 1933. Saint Bernadette is the patroness of illness, people ridiculed for their piety, poverty, shepherds, shepherdesses, and Lourdes, France.

Pope Leo XIV visits an orphanage in Cameroon

 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• Cameroon
• apostolic journey
• children

Pope at orphanage in Cameroon: No one is ever forgotten

Pope Leo XIV visits the Ngul Zamba Orphanage in Yaoundé, and encourages children who have faced hardship to see themselves as part of a loving family, thanking caregivers for their dedicated service.

Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV visited the children and staff of the Ngul Zamba Orphanage, on Tuesday, his first day in Cameroon. 

First addressing the children, the Pope expressed his joy at being with them and described the orphanage as a place that has become a true home. He reminded them that, above all, it is God who welcomes them as His children and draws them close with love.

The Pope in his address emphasized the sense of family that could be felt within the orphanage, noting that the children share similar life experiences of hardship.

"You form a true family here," he said, adding that their unity as brothers and sisters, gathered around Christ, gives them strength and allows them to face life’s difficulties together.

The Pope acknowledged the challenges many of the children have faced, including loss, abandonment, and uncertainty. He encouraged them not to define their future by these experiences.

"You are called to a future that is greater than your wounds," he said, reminding them that God is close to those who suffer and knows each of them personally.

Turning then to the Gospel, Pope Leo XIV recalled that Jesus showed particular care for children and placed them at the centre of his attention. He told the children that Christ looks upon them today with the same concern and affection.

No one is ever forgotten

Pope Leo then spoke about the broader responsibility of society. In a world which is so often marked by indifference, he said, places like the orphanage are a reminder that people are called to care for one another. "In God's great family, no one is ever a stranger or forgotten," he said. 

He then thanked the staff, volunteers, and religious sisters who care for the children, and praised their commitment and dedication.

Their work, he said, is a concrete expression of love, and it reflects God's mercy. By offering not only material support, but also presence and guidance, they provide the children with stability and hope for the future. 

Bringing his greeting to a close, the Pope quoted Matthew's Gospel, noting that caring for the most vulnerable is a way of serving Christ Himself. He encouraged those working in the orphanage to continue their efforts with perseverance. 

Finally, Pope Leo entrusted the children and staff to the care of the Virgin Mary, asking that she protect and support them, especially in times of difficulty.

Chosen actor Jonathan Roumie chimes in about the Pope/President kerfuffle

 JONATHAN ROUMIE OPINES

I never imagined I'd see a day when the leader of our nation and the Holy Father might find themselves at odds.
It speaks to the weight—and uncertainty—of the times we’re living in.

Yet, one thing remains firm:
Christ is on the throne. He always has been. Always will be. And His victory is Eternal.

As Catholics—as Christians—we are called to follow Christ’s example in all things…even when that path is narrow, costly, and difficult to walk.

Having lost extended family members—innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of war and its humanitarian toll—I carry a deep conviction for peace and restraint whenever possible, because the cost is simply too great otherwise.

Of course, nations have the right—and the responsibility—to defend their people. Threats cannot be ignored. But when that defense results in the loss of innocent life—especially women and children—my heart compels me to stand with Pope Leo XIV in his call for peace…even as I fall to my knees in prayer for an end to violence.

In Matthew's Gospel Jesus tells us: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
Those words feel especially urgent now.

We’re living in a time when division comes far too easily—when the devil delights in turning us against one another, using our vulnerabilities, weaknesses and frankly anything and everything he can against us, seeking ultimately to destroy humanity in the process.

As that darkness presses in, I pray—for Pope Leo XIV, that he may continue to lead as a shepherd of light and peace for the Church Christ established.
And I pray for our President, and for all leaders entrusted with decisions that carry the weight of life and death—that they may be guided by the Holy Spirit in wisdom, courage, and prudence.

These are burdens few can truly comprehend.
To bear them well requires extraordinary discernment—and grace; that gift given to us as a result of the supreme sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tonight, let us pray for them both; may the Sacred Heart of Jesus guide each and every decision they make.
For wisdom. For peace…and most especially, for the protection of the innocent.

God be with them.
And God help us all.

Amen.

Pope Leo at his 1st event of the day in Cameroon

 

Pope

Pope to Cameroonian Authorities: Peace ‘must be embraced and lived'

During his first official event in Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV calls for peace, justice, and a renewed commitment to the common good, highlighting that peace “must not be reduced to a slogan.”

By Linda Bordoni

Addressing authorities, representatives of civil society and members of the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace in Yaoundé, shortly after his arrival in Cameroon on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV delivered an appeal for peace, justice and renewed commitment to the common good, urging Cameroonians to draw on their rich diversity as a source of unity and strength.

Speaking at the start of his Apostolic Journey to the Central African nation, the Pope expressed gratitude for the warm welcome he received, describing Cameroon as “Africa in miniature” for its cultural and natural richness.

“This variety is not weakness but a treasure,” he said, noting that it represents “a promise of fraternity and a solid foundation for building lasting peace.”

Pope Leo XIV delivering his address (@Vatican Media)

A mission of dialogue and hope

Presenting himself as “a shepherd and a servant of dialogue, fraternity and peace,” Pope Leo XIV said his visit is intended as a sign of closeness to all Cameroonians and an encouragement to persevere in building the common good.

He acknowledged the global climate of discouragement, observing that “hopelessness is rampant” and that many feel powerless in the face of urgent challenges. Yet, he insisted, there remains “a hunger and thirst for justice… for courageous choices and for peace,” particularly among young people, whom he called to take an active role in shaping a more just society.

The Pope also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with Cameroon, grounded in respect for human dignity and religious freedom.

Serving with humility and responsibility

Recalling the legacy of his predecessors, he pointed to the enduring relevance of their calls for hope, reconciliation and responsible governance.

Drawing on the words of Saint Augustine, he reminded leaders that authority is fundamentally a form of service: those who govern, he said, must do so “not from a love of power, but from a sense of the duty they owe to others.”

Such service, he explained, requires dedication to the good of all, including minorities, and the promotion of harmony within society.

A plea for peace amid suffering

Turning to the challenges facing the country, Pope Leo XIV spoke candidly about the violence affecting regions such as the Northwest, Southwest and Far North, noting the “profound suffering” caused by conflict: lives lost, families displaced, and young people deprived of hope.

“Behind the numbers are the faces, stories and shattered hopes of real people,” he said.

Renewing an appeal he made earlier this year, the Pope urged the rejection of “the logic of violence and war” in favour of a peace “founded on love and justice.” He described true peace as “unarmed” and “disarming,” capable of opening hearts and fostering trust.

“The world is thirsting for peace… Enough of war,” he insisted, stressing that peace must never be reduced to empty rhetoric but embodied in daily life and institutional practice.

Investing in youth and the future

Turning again to young people, Pope Leo XIV described them as “the hope of the country and of the Church,” while acknowledging the dangers posed by unemployment, exclusion and social marginalization.

“Investing in the education, training and entrepreneurship of young people is… a strategic choice for peace,” he said, stressing that it is also key to preventing migration and combating social ills such as drug abuse and exploitation.

He noted with appreciation the deep spirituality of Cameroonian youth, which, when properly nurtured, can inspire commitment to peace, justice and solidarity.

A shared path toward reconciliation

The Pope encouraged greater interreligious dialogue and the involvement of religious leaders in mediation efforts, highlighting the Church’s ongoing commitment to education, healthcare and charitable service for all, without distinction.

He expressed his desire for continued cooperation with civil authorities and international partners in promoting human dignity and reconciliation.

Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV invoked God’s blessing upon Cameroon and its people. “May God bless Cameroon,” he said, “and grant the entire Cameroonian people… the grace to welcome the Kingdom of God and so build together a future of justice and peace.”

Pope Leo XIV is now in Cameroon

 

Pope

• Algeria
• Cameroon
• Equatorial Guinea
• Pope Leo XIV
• apostolic journey
• Angola

Pope Leo XIV lands in Cameroon for second leg of his Apostolic Journey

After kicking off his apostolic journey to the African Continent in Algeria, Pope Leo XIV’s lands in Cameroon on Wednesday, April 15, beginning the second leg of his pilgrimage that will take him also to Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

Pope Leo XIV’s landed at the Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport near Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, at 2:57 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 15, marking the beginning of the second leg of his Apostolic Journey.

He departed this morning from Algeria – the first country in his itinerary – having arrived on Monday, April 13. The Pope will be in Cameroon until Saturday, April 18, and then will travel to Angola and Equatorial Guinea before returning to Rome on Thursday, April 23.

Pope Leo XIV was welcomed to the country by the Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute. Two children also greeted him. Then different anthems were played and the various members of the delegations of the two states were presented. Following the welcome ceremony, the Pope had a brief meeting with the Prime Minister.

16/03/2026

Pope Leo’s schedule for Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea

The Holy See Press Office releases the programme for Pope Leo XIV's Apostolic Journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, which takes place on April 13-23, 2026.

The Pope’s first day in Cameroon

The Pope first stop in Cameroon is at the Presidential Palace, where he will meet privately with the President of the Republic, Paul Barthélemy Biya, before addressing the authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps of the country.

Pope Leo will then visit the Ngul Zamba Orphanage, where he will greet the residents and staff. Then, for his last appointment of the day, he will meet privately with the Cameroonian Bishops at the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference.