Pope Leon XIV tied prospects for peace in Cameroon to concrete governance conditions during a speech at the Palace of Unity in Yaoundé on Wednesday, calling for justice, the rule of law, credible institutions, transparency in public affairs and stronger civil society involvement.
Speaking after President Paul Biya, the pope addressed Cameroonian authorities, members of the diplomatic corps and civil society representatives.
He began in the customary tone of an apostolic visit, presenting himself as a pastor committed to dialogue, fraternity and peace, and praised Cameroon, often described as “Africa in miniature,” for its linguistic, cultural and social diversity, which he said should be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
The tone shifted as he turned to the country’s crises, pointing to ongoing tensions and violence in the Northwest, Southwest and Far North regions. He highlighted their human toll, including loss of life, displacement, disruption to education and a lack of prospects for young people, stressing that behind official figures lie individual stories and broken lives.
The speech comes as Cameroon faces multiple flashpoints. In the anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions, conflict continues to drive violence, displacement and school dropouts. In the Far North, insecurity remains a source of instability. These tensions have been compounded by the aftermath of the October 2025 presidential election, which triggered violence in several cities, along with deaths and arrests, deepening political and civic mistrust.
The pope called for a rejection of violence in favour of a form of peace rooted in justice and solidarity. He argued that such peace should not rely on fear or force, but should instead help resolve conflicts, rebuild trust and restore hope.
He warned that peace cannot be reduced to rhetoric and said it requires both personal commitment and institutional discipline that reject all forms of violence.
The core of his address focused on the conditions needed to sustain peace. He described it as the result of sustained collective effort and stressed the responsibility of public authorities to listen to citizens and recognise their role in shaping durable solutions.
He identified two key requirements: transparency in the management of public resources and respect for the rule of law, which he said are essential to restoring trust and building credible institutions.
He also directly addressed corruption, warning that it undermines authority by eroding credibility and must be tackled if peace and justice are to take hold. In doing so, he linked stability to the quality of governance, the strength of institutions and public trust. He added that public authority should serve as a unifying force rather than a source of division.
The pope extended responsibility beyond the state, describing civil society as a key driver of national cohesion. He cited the role of associations, youth and women’s groups, trade unions, humanitarian organisations, traditional leaders and religious figures in supporting displaced populations, assisting victims, mediating conflicts and rebuilding social ties.
He highlighted the role of women, often among the most affected by violence and discrimination, as central actors in peacebuilding. He also described young people as a critical resource for the country’s future and called for greater investment in education, training and entrepreneurship to counter emigration, social vulnerability and economic stagnation.
Earlier, President Biya had struck a more consensual tone, welcoming the pope’s message of peace at a time of global instability and calling for dialogue to prevail over conflict. He also pointed to Cameroon’s tradition of religious tolerance and the contribution of the Catholic Church to health and education.
It was the pope’s address, however, that gave the visit its political significance. Rather than framing peace solely as a moral objective, he set out a clear link between stability and governance, pointing to justice, institutional credibility, public accountability, citizen engagement and the role of social actors in maintaining national cohesion.
Baudouin Enama