Pope Leo XIV addressed a massive crowd of approximately 120,000 faithful in Douala, Cameroon, as part of his African tour, delivering a homily in English and French that urged the city's youth to reject violence and corruption in pursuit of the common good. He stated, "Do not give in to distrust and discouragement. Reject every form of abuse or violence, which deceives by promising easy gains but hardens the heart," emphasizing the importance of values such as faith, family, hospitality, and work as the true treasure of the Cameroonian people.
Security was tightly controlled for the Friday Mass, with Cameroonians flocking to the Japorma stadium a day in advance and staying overnight to witness the pontiff in person. Kevin Kaegam told Reuters, "It was difficult – the cold, the mosquitoes and everything. But since we want to see the supreme pontiff, we had no choice," highlighting the dedication of the attendees despite harsh conditions.
Following the event, Pope Leo was scheduled to visit a Catholic hospital in Douala before heading to the capital, Yaounde, to meet students at the Catholic University of Central Africa. His stop in Douala, Cameroon's largest city and economic hub, comes after a visit to Bamenda, the epicenter of a nearly decade-long English-speaking separatist insurgency that has killed thousands. There, he appealed for peace and criticized those "who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain," addressing the ongoing security challenges in the region.
Cameroon is the second stop on the Pope's four-country African tour, which began in Algeria and includes Angola and Equatorial Guinea. In a new, forceful speaking style, Pope Leo has condemned violations of international law by "neocolonial" world powers and asserted that "the whims of the rich and powerful" threaten global peace. His comments critical of the war in Iran have reportedly angered US President Donald Trump, who allegedly called the first US-born pontiff "weak" and "terrible for foreign policy." Pope Leo responded by stating he has "no fear of the Trump administration," underscoring the geopolitical tensions surrounding his tour.
With a population that is 30% Catholic, Cameroon faces a series of social and security crises, including the Anglophone conflict and fallout from deadly post-election protests last year. Despite these challenges, crowds have been enthusiastic, lining the streets and wearing colorful fabrics featuring images of the Pope's face. Cameroonian Bishop Leopold Bayemi Matjei described Leo's visit as "a moment of great joy" and expressed hope that it would bring divine blessing to Cameroon, reflecting the local anticipation for positive change amidst ongoing instability.
Source: www.aljazeera.com