As banners line the streets of Yaoundé, Pope Leo XIV arrives in Cameroon bearing a message of peace, even as debate surrounds his visit.
The visit, the second leg of his African tour, comes at a delicate moment for the Central African nation. Within hours of landing on Wednesday, the pope is expected to meet Paul Biya, the 93-year-old leader who has ruled the country for more than four decades.
The planned meeting has stirred debate among local Catholics. Some clergy fear it may lend political weight to a presidency that has faced criticism, particularly following unrest linked to Biya’s most recent re-election.
For the Vatican, however, the visit is framed as pastoral rather than political. The pope’s itinerary reflects a focus on reconciliation in a country grappling with a long-running conflict between government forces and English-speaking separatists.
On Thursday, Leo is due to travel to Bamenda, a city at the heart of the Anglophone crisis. There, he is expected to lead prayers for peace before thousands of worshippers in a region deeply scarred by violence.
The roots of the conflict stretch back decades, tied to tensions between the country’s French-speaking majority and its English-speaking minority. What began as protests in 2016 has since escalated into an armed struggle. Rights groups estimate that thousands have been killed and many more displaced.
The pope’s visit follows an earlier stop in Algeria, where he called for dialogue and coexistence across religious lines. Speaking to reporters during the journey, he appeared unfazed by criticism from Donald Trump, who had publicly disagreed with his stance on global issues.
“The Gospel says, ‘blessed are the peacemakers’,” Leo said. “I have no fear… of speaking out about its message.”
Despite the tensions surrounding parts of his tour, the reception in Cameroon has been largely celebratory. Streets in Yaoundé have been lined with flags, and preparations are underway for a large public mass in Douala, the country’s economic hub.
The visit marks the fourth time a pope has travelled to Cameroon, a nation often described as “mini-Africa” for its cultural and religious diversity.
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