YAOUNDE, Cameroon — “Peace, in fact, cannot be decreed: It must be embraced and lived,” Pope Leo XIV emphasized on Wednesday in a meeting with government authorities, the diplomatic corps, and civil society in Cameroon — the second stop of his journey in Africa.
In a dense address, the pope expressed confidence in Cameroonʼs society, often described as “Africa in miniature” because of the richness of its lands, cultures, languages, and traditions. A country marked by conflict, even recent conflict, but whose civil society, the pope said, is ready to take responsibility for a rebirth, together with its young people.
Leo arrived in Cameroonʼs capital, Yaoundé, for the second leg of his 11-day papal journey to Africa. President Paul Biya, in power for nearly four decades, welcomed the pope. Yet beneath a political system that has endured, conflicts have also taken root. In particular, the so‑called Anglophone crisis remains in the background, a topic the pope will address when he visits Bamenda on Thursday.
The Anglophone crisis erupted in 2016 when Cameroon’s Anglophone minority launched a campaign calling for greater autonomy and was rejected by Biya. From that point onward, the situation deteriorated, resulting in deaths and displacement, culminating in a “declaration of independence” proclaimed in October 2017 in a territory referred to as Ambazonia. At the height of the crisis, mediation by the Holy See was also requested.
The Church remains present in Cameroon and carries out extensive work. Leo XIV recalled that he is the third pope to visit the country, following two visits by St. John Paul II and one by Pope Benedict XVI. In 1995, John Paul II chose Yaoundé, the country’s capital, to promulgate the postsynodal apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Africa, which emerged from the Synod for Africa.
‘A hunger and thirst for justice’
This was the backdrop of Leoʼs address on April 15, which was not only as a message of peace but also an encouragement to Catholics in Cameroon to continue building the common good.
“I come among you as a shepherd and as a servant of dialogue, fraternity, and peace,” he said. “We are living, in fact, at a time when hopelessness is rampant and a sense of powerlessness tends to paralyze the renewal so deeply desired by peoples. There is such a hunger and thirst for justice! A thirst for getting involved, for a vision, for courageous choices and for peace!”
The pope expressed his desire to reach everyone, especially the young, “who are called to help shape a world that is more just, including in the political sphere.” He recalled the visits of his predecessors and asked where the country stands today, quoting St. Augustine: “Those who rule serve those whom they seem to command; for they rule not from a love of power but from a sense of the duty they owe to others — not because they are proud of authority, but because they love mercy.”
From this perspective, he said, serving one’s country means dedicating oneself, with clarity of mind and upright conscience, to the common good of all people, including both the majority and minorities, and their mutual harmony.
Leo acknowledged that Cameroon is facing complex difficulties. Violence and tensions in the northwest, southwest, and far north regions have caused profound suffering: lives lost, families displaced, children deprived of education. In response, he recalled his appeal to reject violence and war and to embrace peace founded 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.”
“Peace cannot be reduced to a slogan: It must be embodied in a way of life that renounces all forms of violence, both personally and institutionally,” the pontiff continued. He forcefully reiterated that “the world is thirsting for peace… Enough of war, with all the pain it causes through death, destruction, and exile!”
“Peace, in fact, cannot be decreed: It must be embraced and lived. It is a gift from God, which unfolds through patient and collective effort. It is everyone’s responsibility, beginning with civil authorities,” he said. To govern, the pope added, means to love one’s own country and neighboring countries, applying the commandment “love your neighbor as yourself” even to international relations. Governing also means truly listening to citizens and valuing their ability to help build lasting solutions. In this context, he recalled Pope Francis’ call to move beyond “the idea of social policies being a policy for the poor, but never with the poor and never of the poor, much less part of a project which can bring people back together.”
Civil society, the pope stressed, must be recognized as a vital force for national cohesion. “Cameroon is ready for this transition!” Associations, women’s and youth organizations, trade unions, humanitarian nongovernmental organizations, and traditional and religious leaders, he said, play an irreplaceable role in social peace. They are often the first to intervene during tensions, to assist the displaced, support victims, open spaces for dialogue, and encourage local mediation. Their closeness to communities allows them to identify the root causes of conflict and appropriate solutions.
Leo expressed particular gratitude for women, who are frequently 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 be fully recognized in decision‑making processes.
Transparency in managing public resources and respect for the rule of law, he said, are essential to restoring trust.
‘Integral human development’
Addressing those in positions of authority, Leo XIV spoke of a twofold witness: collaboration among institutions in 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 freed from idolatrous pursuit of profit. True profit lies in integral human development.
Looking ahead, the Holy Father highlighted Cameroon’s human, cultural, and spiritual resources and emphasized that “young people represent the hope of the country and of the Church. Their energy and creativity are priceless treasures.” While unemployment and exclusion can fuel frustration and violence, investing in education, training, and entrepreneurship, he said, is a strategic path to peace and the only way to stem the loss of talent and counter the scourges of drugs, prostitution, and apathy.
Cameroonian youth, he added, possess a “deep spirituality that still resists the homogenizing influence of the market.”
Through its educational, health care, and charitable efforts, the Catholic Church in Cameroon wishes to continue serving all without distinction, collaborating with civil authorities and strengthening ties between Cameroonians worldwide and their communities of origin, the pope concluded.
This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.