Pope Leo XIV lands in Yaoundé, opening his visit to Cameroon with a powerful call for peace, justice, and unity amid ongoing regional challenges.
Newsroom (15/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV arrived at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport at 2:57 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 15, marking the start of the second leg of his Apostolic Journey across Africa. The stop in Cameroon follows his visit to Algeria and precedes trips to Angola and Equatorial Guinea before his planned return to Rome on April 23.
Greeted by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, a delegation of officials, and two children bearing flowers, the Pontiff received a warm welcome that blended ceremony with symbolism. National anthems resounded through the airfield as both countries presented their delegations and exchanged formal courtesies. Pope Leo then held a brief private meeting with the Prime Minister before proceeding to the next stage of his visit — an encounter that set the tone for his pastoral mission in Cameroon.
A Vatican Call for Peace and National Renewal
The Pope’s first official engagement took place at the Presidential Palace, where he met President Paul Barthélemy Biya. Addressing national authorities, the diplomatic corps, and civil society representatives, Pope Leo XIV delivered a forceful message on peace, justice, and moral responsibility.
He opened his remarks by expressing deep gratitude for what he called Cameroon’s “warm heart and vibrant soul.” Describing the nation as “Africa in miniature,” he praised its cultural and ecological diversity as a “treasure and a promise of fraternity.”
“This variety is not weakness but wealth,” the Pope said. “It is the foundation for building lasting peace.”
Setting a pastoral tone for his stay, he presented himself as “a shepherd and a servant of dialogue, fraternity and peace.” He urged Cameroonians to transform diversity into unity, adding that true peace “must not be reduced to a slogan” but lived daily through concrete acts of justice and compassion.
A Plea for Peace Amid Pain
Turning to the country’s internal struggles, Pope Leo XIV spoke candidly about the human cost of conflict in the Northwest, Southwest and Far North regions. “Behind the numbers are the faces, stories, and shattered hopes of real people,” he said, lamenting the lives lost and communities displaced by years of instability.
He renewed his plea for an end to “the logic of violence and war,” calling for a peace founded on love, justice, and mutual trust. “The world is thirsting for peace,” he declared. “Enough of war.”
Leadership as Service
Drawing inspiration from Saint Augustine, the Pope reminded Cameroon’s leaders that public authority is a duty of service, not domination. “Those who govern must do so not from a love of power, but from a sense of duty owed to others,” he emphasized.
He urged officials to act as “bridges, never as sources of division,” and insisted that governance rooted in justice and integrity restores trust and strengthens national cohesion. Corruption, he warned, is a “force that disfigures authority,” stripping it of its moral legitimacy.
The Power of Civil Society and Women
Addressing the wider public, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that peacebuilding cannot rest solely with the state. “Peace is everyone’s responsibility,” he said, recognizing the crucial role of civil society — from grassroots associations and NGOs to youth and women’s groups — in fostering reconciliation.
He offered particular thanks to women, calling them “tireless peacemakers” whose influence in education and social rebuilding is indispensable. “Their voice must be fully recognized in decision-making processes,” he urged.
Investing in Youth and the Future
In one of the speech’s most hopeful passages, the Pope addressed the nation’s youth, calling them “the hope of the country and of the Church.” He warned against the dangers of unemployment, disenchantment, and exclusion, describing education and entrepreneurship as “strategic choices for peace.”
He praised the spirituality of Cameroonian youth, urging them to transform faith into action: “Your faith, when nourished, becomes the strength to build a just and fraternal nation.”
A Mission of Dialogue and Partnership
Beyond his meeting with President Biya, Pope Leo XIV’s itinerary in Cameroon includes visits to the Ngul Zamba Orphanage and the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference, where he will meet privately with the country’s bishops. Each engagement reflects his stated mission to promote dialogue and solidarity at every level of Cameroonian life.
He also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to cooperation with Cameroon, grounded in respect for human dignity, religious freedom, and shared responsibility. The Pope encouraged interreligious dialogue and praised the long-standing contribution of local faith communities to education, healthcare, and humanitarian support.
Closing Words of Blessing
Concluding his first official address in Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV invoked a blessing on the nation and its people: “May God bless Cameroon and grant them the grace to welcome the Kingdom of God and so build together a future of justice and peace.”
As his visit unfolds in the coming days, the Pope’s message resonates far beyond the ornate halls of the Presidential Palace — calling on Cameroonians to rediscover the strength of dialogue and the promise of unity in diversity.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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