In region with “Anglophone crisis,” Pope’s message is in English

Pope Leo’s first meeting in Cameroon that wasn’t with politicians had taken place the previous evening, when he visited the Ngul Zamba orphanage in Yaoundé. The institution serves children from diverse backgrounds and faiths. The Pope described their community as “a true family,” presaging themes he would address in Bamenda. It was an encounter he visibly enjoyed, as he sang along with the children in their presentation.

During the peace meeting at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda, the Pope listened to stories of interreligious dialogue and offered a message of hope to the community. Some secessionist factions, in fact, have declared a truce during the Pontiff’s visit.

"It is a joy for me to be with you in this region that has suffered so greatly," said the Pope. A festive crowd welcomed him both inside and outside the cathedral. He praised the resilience shown in testimonies from Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda and various religious leaders (representing traditional local religion, Protestantism, and Islam) involved in peace talks. A religious sister who was kidnapped last November and a family of displaced persons also shared their experiences.

The "Anglophone crisis" began in 2016 with a strike by lawyers and teachers who opposed the appointment of French-speaking judges in English-speaking regions. After the government suppressed the protests, violence escalated. In October 2017, Anglophone separatists declared the Republic of Ambazonia.

According to 2024 statistics from the Norwegian Refugee Council, the conflict has killed at least 6,000 people and displaced over a million. As public institutions withdrew due to increasing kidnappings and violence, the Church remained the only organization still serving the population in some regions.

"As your testimonies have just demonstrated, the lived experience of suffering by your community has only made stronger your conviction that God has never abandoned us!" Leo XIV declared. "In God, in his peace, we can always begin anew!"

The Pope described the area as a "bloodstained yet fertile land that has been mistreated, yet is rich in vegetation and fruit." He honored those who have stayed "on the path of goodness" by tirelessly seeking dialogue and forgiveness.

“The crisis impacting these regions of Cameroon has brought Christian and Muslim communities closer than ever before. Indeed, your religious leaders have come together to establish a Movement for Peace, through which they seek to mediate between the opposing sides,” Leo XIV noted, holding up this interreligious commitment as a model for the rest of Africa and the world.

"I wish this would happen in so many other places of the world! [...] Blessed are the peacemakers!" the Pope exclaimed. However, he issued a stern warning: "Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth."

Addressing the crowd energetically, he invoked the Beatitudes: "You who hunger and thirst for justice, who are poor, merciful, meek, and pure of heart, you who have wept — you are the light of the world!" He urged them to "cherish all the shared moments that have brought you together in these times of sorrow. [...] Be like oil poured out upon the wounds of your brothers and sisters."

Watch some of the address at Instagram; article continues below.

The Pope spoke out against "masters of war" who “turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation,” while “resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found”

"Those who rob your land of its resources generally invest much of the profit in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilization and death," he protested. “The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants,” he warned, calling for a conversion that will lead “onto a sustainable path rich in human fraternity.”

However, the world “is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters!” he added, echoing Pope Francis’ calls for a "silent revolution" for peace and reconciliation, involving believers of all faiths. “We are this immense people!"

“As the Imam said, let us thank God that this crisis has not degenerated into a religious war, and that we are all still trying to love one another!”

Earlier in the ceremony, Imam Mohamad Abubakar had hailed the Pope as a "representative of God, who is the author of all that is good, the bearer of peace, and the one who loves all humanity."

The traditional king of the Mankon people, Fon Fru Asaah Angwafor IV (who has reigned since 2022), spoke at the start of the ceremony. He talked about promoting peace, but also addressed the issue of polygamy. “There were certain traditional practices that were not compatible with Christian values, and some of them have gradually disappeared thanks to education and the evolution of society,” he said.

“We give thanks that, during the Synod on Synodality in Rome in 2023 and 2024,” Pope Francis “asked African bishops to conduct an in-depth study on polygamy and to examine how people living in these situations can be integrated into the life of the Church,” explained the tribal king.

He said he was awaiting “the results of this study, so that these traditional leaders and people in this situation may worship God freely in the Church, without being judged or rejected within that same Church.” His words sparked strong reactions in the assembly.

Leo XIV didn’t directly address this topic. However, on March 24, the Catholic commission on “The Pastoral Challenge of Polygamy” released its report, in which it proposes approaches for the evangelization of polygamous families on the African continent. Produced by members of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), the document encourages pastoral accompaniment toward the abandonment of the practice of polygamy in cases where baptism is requested.

At the end of the celebration, Pope Leo XIV greeted the crowd outside and released seven doves as a sign of peace. He then headed to the Archdiocese of Bamenda for lunch. For the final leg of his visit to this region ravaged by fighting, he celebrated Mass on the tarmac at Bamenda Airport at 3:15 p.m. local time (4:15 p.m. Rome time), before departing for Yaoundé.