Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday to an outpouring of joy, marking the start of an emotional visit for the country’s Catholic faithful.
The papal aircraft landed at Yaoundé’s international airport beneath a bright afternoon sky.
The 70-year-old pontiff stepped onto the red carpet smiling, greeting Church officials waiting to receive him during his first visit to the Central African nation.
Beyond the airport gates, the welcome had already taken on the feel of a celebration. Hundreds of people had gathered for hours, singing and dancing as they waited.
Choirs filled the humid air with hymns, accompanied by drums and brass instruments, while dancers performed in anticipation of his arrival.
As the pope’s motorcade left the airport, crowds lined the roads. Many stretched out their hands towards the passing vehicle, some waving Cameroonian flags, others capturing the moment on their phones as Leo waved back from inside.
The visit forms part of one of the most ambitious journeys undertaken by a pontiff in decades. Over ten days, Leo is expected to travel nearly 18,000 kilometres across Africa, visiting 11 cities and towns, including stops in Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
On Thursday (16 April), he is due to travel to Bamenda, the country’s largest English-speaking city, where he will celebrate Mass and attend what has been described as a meeting for peace.
The region has been affected by a long-running conflict, though separatist groups have announced a temporary pause in fighting during his visit.
The largest gathering is expected on Friday in the coastal city of Douala, where the Vatican says around 600,000 people could attend Mass.
Throughout his visit, Pope Leo has delivered a firm message on peace, justice and leadership. Speaking before Paul Biya, who has governed Cameroon since 1982, he urged reflection and reform.
“It is time to examine our conscience and take a bold leap forward,” Leo said.
“In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility must be broken.”
In unusually direct remarks, the pope criticised leaders who spend vast sums on war, warning that the world is “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants”. He also condemned the use of religious language to justify conflict, calling for a “decisive change of course.”
His comments come amid growing tensions with Donald Trump, who has publicly criticised the pope on social media.
Leo, the first pope from the United States, has spoken out against the war involving the U.S., Israel and Iran, describing threats to destroy Iranian civilisation as “truly unacceptable”.
The dispute has drawn further attention after remarks from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who said the pope should “be careful” when speaking on theological matters.
Despite the political backdrop, the mood on the ground in Cameroon has remained focused on unity and hope. For many gathered in Yaoundé, the visit is less about global tensions and more about a rare moment of spiritual connection.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, raising cautious hopes of a pause in hostilities a...
Nine people, including eight children, were killed in a shooting at a middle school in Türkiye’s southeastern Kahramanmaraş province on...
South Korea will import 18 million barrels of Kazakh oil via routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, as it seeks to shield its energy supply from mo...
Kazakhstan has ratified an allied relations treaty with Tajikistan and a strategic partnership agreement with the United Kingdom, aiming to deepen ...
The United Nations says it reached millions of Afghans with healthcare, education and livelihoods support in 2025, despite declining global humanit...
Nine people, including eight children, were killed in a shooting at a middle school in Türkiye’s southeastern Kahramanmaraş province on Wednesday. Thirteen others were injured, sparking public outrage and raising concerns about a rare phenomenon in the country.
South Korea will import 18 million barrels of Kazakh oil via routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, as it seeks to shield its energy supply from mounting instability in the Middle East.
The United Nations says it reached millions of Afghans with healthcare, education and livelihoods support in 2025, despite declining global humanitarian aid and mounting pressures from displacement, climate shocks and operational constraints.
Britain and France will co-host virtual talks on Friday (17 April) to ease tensions and restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
Spain’s plan to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants is facing early resistance, with immigration officers warning they may strike over a lack of preparation and resources.
Dubai’s most iconic hotel, the Burj Al Arab, is set to close for the first time since opening in 1999 as it begins an extensive 18-month refurbishment aimed at preserving its status as a global symbol of luxury.
The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington yesterday. Fuel prices have dropped below $100 a barrel. U.S. blockade on Iranian ports completes first day.
Azerbaijan and Russia have announced a formal settlement over the 2024 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190 near Aktau, confirming that all outstanding issues, including compensation, have been resolved.
Türkiye is reeling after a second school shooting in as many days, after a 14-year-old student killed nine people - eight pupils and one teacher - and wounded 13 others at a middle school in the south-eastern province of Kahramanmaraş on Wednesday, officials said.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, raising cautious hopes of a pause in hostilities after weeks of escalating tensions.
Britain and France will co-host virtual talks on Friday (17 April) to ease tensions and restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
Germany’s opposition party, The Left, on Thursday accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government of fuelling the war in Iran by exporting arms to Israel, as new figures revealed millions of euros in approved military sales.
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday rejected two legislative resolutions aimed at stopping the sale of heavy bombs and military bulldozers to Israel.
A federal judge has dismissed a high-profile lawsuit brought by the Trump administration that sought to pre-emptively stop the state of Hawaii from suing major fossil fuel companies over the local impacts of climate change.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment