YAOUNDE, Cameroon – “Peace, in fact, cannot be declared: it must be embraced and lived,” Pope Leo XIV stressed Wednesday in a meeting with government officials, the diplomatic corps and civil society in Cameroon – the second stop of his trip to Africa.
In a profound address, the Pope expressed confidence in Cameroonian society, often described as a “miniature Africa” because of the richness of its lands, cultures, languages and traditions. A country that is plagued by conflict, even recent conflict, but whose civil society, together with its youth, is ready to take responsibility for rebirth, the Pope said.
Leo arrived in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé for the second leg of his 11-day papal visit to Africa. President Paul Biya, who has been in power for nearly four decades, welcomed the Pope. Yet, under the prevailing political system, conflicts have also taken root. In particular, the so-called Anglophone crisis remains in the background, a topic the Pope will address on Thursday during a visit to Bamenda.
The Anglophone crisis began in 2016 when Cameroon’s Anglophone minority launched a campaign for greater autonomy and Biya rejected it. From that point, the situation deteriorated, resulting in deaths and displacement, culminating in a “declaration of independence” declared in the region called Ambazonia in October 2017. At the height of the crisis, mediation was even requested by the Holy See.
The Church is present in Cameroon and carries out extensive work. Leo XIV recalled that he is the third Pope to visit the country, after two visits by St. John Paul II and one visit by Pope Benedict XVI. In 1995, John Paul II chose Yaoundé, the country’s capital, to preach a postsynodal apostolic exhortation. Ecclesia in Africawhich emerged from the Synod for Africa.
‘Hunger and thirst for justice’
This was the background to Leo’s address on 15 April, which was not only a message of peace but also an encouragement to Catholics in Cameroon to continue building the common good.
He said, “I have come among you as a shepherd and servant of dialogue, brotherhood and peace.” “Indeed, we live in a time when despair is rampant and a sense of powerlessness paralyzes the renewal deeply desired by people. There is such a hunger and thirst for justice! There is a thirst for inclusion, for a vision, for bold choices, and for peace!”
The Pope expressed his desire to reach out to everyone, especially young people, “who are called to help shape a more just world, including in the political sphere.” He recalled the travels of his predecessors and asked where the country stands today, quoting St. Augustine: “Those who rule serve those whom they appear to command; for they rule not from love of power but from a sense of duty to others – not because they are proud of authority, but because they love mercy.”
From this perspective, he said, serving one’s country means devoting oneself with clarity of mind and honest conscience to the common good of all people, including both the majority and minorities, and their mutual harmony.
Leo acknowledged that Cameroon faces complex difficulties. Violence and tension in the North-West, South-West and Far North regions have caused deep suffering: lives lost, families displaced, children deprived of education. In response, he recalled his appeal to reject violence and war and embrace a peace based on love and justice: “A peace that is unarmed, that is not based on fear, threats or weapons, and at the same time disarming, because it is capable of resolving conflicts, opening hearts and generating trust, empathy and hope.”
The Pontiff further said, “Peace cannot be reduced to a slogan: it must be embodied in a way of life that renounces all forms of violence, both individual and institutional.” He reiterated emphatically that “the world thirsts for peace…enough of war, with all the pain it causes through death, destruction and exile!”
He said, “Indeed, peace cannot be ordered: it must be embraced and lived. It is a gift from God, which emerges through patient and collective effort. It is the responsibility of everyone, starting from the civil authorities.” To govern means to love one’s country and one’s neighbors, the pope said, applying the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” to international relations. Governing also means truly listening to citizens and valuing their ability to help create sustainable solutions. In this context, he recalled Pope Francis’ call that “social policies must proceed from the idea of being a policy for the poor, but never with the poor and never for the poor, much less part of a project that can bring people back together.”
The Pope stressed that civil society must be recognized as an important force for national unity. “Cameron is ready for this change!” Associations, women and youth organizations, trade unions, humanitarian non-governmental organizations and traditional and religious leaders play an irreplaceable role in social peace, he said. They are often the first to intervene during tensions, assisting displaced persons, supporting victims, opening spaces for dialogue and encouraging local mediation. Their closeness to communities allows them to identify the root causes of conflict and appropriate solutions.
Leo expressed special gratitude to women, who are often the first victims of prejudice and violence yet remain tireless peacemakers. Their commitment to education, mediation and rebuilding the social fabric curbs corruption and abuse of power and requires that their voices are fully recognized in decision-making processes.
He said transparency in the management of public resources and respect for the rule of law are essential to restore trust.
‘Integral Human Development’
Addressing those in positions of authority, Leo XIV spoke of a double witness: cooperation between institutions in the service of the people, especially the poor, and integrity of personal conduct. To allow peace and justice to flourish, he said, the chains of corruption must be broken and hearts must be freed from idolatry. The true benefit lies in overall human development.
Looking ahead, the Holy Father highlighted Cameroon’s human, cultural and spiritual resources and stressed that “Young people represent the hope of the country and the Church. Their energy and creativity are priceless treasures.” While unemployment and exclusion can fuel frustration and violence, investment in education, training and entrepreneurship, he said, is a strategic path to peace and the only way to prevent talent loss and combat the scourges of drugs, prostitution and indifference.
Cameroon’s youth, he said, have a “deep spirituality that still resists the homogenizing influence of the market.”
The Pope concluded that through its educational, health care and charitable efforts, the Catholic Church in Cameroon seeks to serve all without discrimination, cooperate with civil authorities and strengthen ties between Cameroonians and their communities of origin throughout the world.
this story was first published By ACI Stampa, EWTN News’ Italian language partner service. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
