Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday as part of his four-nation Africa tour, traveling directly to Bamenda, the epicenter of violence in Cameroon's Anglophone separatist conflict. The pope's visit to Bamenda was facilitated by the renovation of its airport, which had been shut since 2019 due to the separatist insurgency. On Thursday, the pope presided over a peace meeting in Bamenda with community leaders and later celebrated Mass at the airport.
In a speech in Bamenda, the pope criticized tyrants who manipulate religion for military, economic, and political gain. He appealed to Cameroon's leaders to examine their conscience and tackle corruption and rights abuses in a speech at the presidential palace on Wednesday. His visit comes six months after authorities violently put down protests against President Paul Biya's disputed re-election.
We have been praying ceaselessly for the conflict to end, to no avail. We want the pope to intercede for us. I strongly believe his coming will help heal my wounds.
The pope also condemned exploitation of Africa's resources, stating that those who rob the land of its resources generally invest much of the profit in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilisation and death. He further criticized those who, in the name of profit, continue to lay their hands on the African continent to exploit and plunder it, and noted that they turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found. The backdrop to the pope's visit is a separatist conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.
English-speaking separatists in Cameroon launched a rebellion in 2017 with the goal of breaking away from the French-speaking majority. In a gesture ahead of the visit, separatists announced on Tuesday they would pause fighting for three days to allow safe travel for the pope, civilians, and dignitaries. It remains unknown whether this pause will extend beyond the pope's visit.
I would caution the pope against allowing the regime to exploit his presence to mask the pain of profound historical injustices with empty appeals to peace and unity.
Critics worry the pope's visit will be seen as an endorsement of the Biya administration. The Biya administration has been accused of committing abuses in the conflict and not being open to dialogue. According to The Independent - Main, Benjamin Akih described cautioning the pope against allowing the regime to exploit his presence to mask the pain of profound historical injustices with empty appeals to peace and unity.
According to The Independent - Main, Eric Chinje described the visit as having more to do with the pope’s global evangelical mission than with the fate and future of Cameroon. Personal stories highlight the conflict's toll. Caro Bih says she was once kidnapped, chained, and held for ransom by separatist fighters in Cameroon.
The visit has more to do with the pope’s global evangelical mission than with the fate and future of Cameroon.
Several of her relatives have been killed, jailed, or abducted in the conflict, and her family home was razed. According to The Independent - Main, Caro Bih described praying ceaselessly for the conflict to end, to no avail, and wanting the pope to intercede to help heal her wounds. In another case, Rev.
John Berinyuy Tatah, a Catholic priest, was kidnapped by separatists in November alongside five fellow clergy and held for two weeks. The pope's remarks could deepen the rift between the Trump administration and the pontiff. It is unclear whether the visit will lead to concrete peace negotiations or policy changes in Cameroon, or how the government plans to address the pope's calls to tackle corruption and rights abuses.
Woe to those 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.
The exact number of casualties and displaced persons in the separatist conflict has not been confirmed, and the specific foreign firms or local elites involved in exploiting Cameroon's natural resources, as criticized by the pope, remain unidentified.
The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters.
Those who rob your land of its resources generally invest much of the profit in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilisation and death.
They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found.
Those who, in the name of profit, continue to lay their hands on the African continent to exploit and plunder it.