Leo XIV is today, April 16, in Bamenda, in the northwest of Cameroon, one of the regions most affected by the conflict between government forces and Anglophone separatist groups, on a visit centered on prayer for peace and reconciliation.
According to Vatican News, the crisis, which began in 2016, has left thousands dead and nearly 700,000 displaced, in a context of prolonged violence that continues to condition the lives of the population.
A visit amid a fragile truce
The Pontiff’s arrival comes as separatist groups have announced a three-day truce, a gesture that underscores the expectation generated by his presence in a deeply divided region.
In this context, Leo XIV has insisted in his message: “God has never abandoned us,” affirming that even amid suffering it is possible “to start over” from peace.
“Peace does not need to be invented, it needs to be welcomed”
During his address in St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the Pope has emphasized the moral responsibility to build reconciliation, underscoring that peace is not an artificial construction, but a reality that must be welcomed.
“Peace does not need to be invented, it needs to be welcomed,” he affirmed, calling for recognizing the other as a brother and overcoming the divisions that have marked the region.
The Pontiff has also highlighted that, amid the crisis, Christian and Muslim communities have collaborated on mediation initiatives, a fact he has presented as an example in a world where, in his words, religion is often instrumentalized for political or military purposes.
Denunciation of the use of religion for violence
In one of the firmest passages of his speech, Leo XIV has warned against those who use God’s name to justify violence and power interests.
“Woe to those who bend religions to their own interests!”, he pointed out, denouncing a logic that turns the sacred into an instrument of conflict.
Poverty and humanitarian crisis
The Pope’s visit takes place in a region that, in addition to violence, suffers a severe humanitarian crisis. Bamenda hosts thousands of displaced people who have fled without resources, in an environment marked by the lack of basic services and opportunities.
A call to move forward “together”
In this context, the Pope has insisted on the need to advance in unity, highlighting the role of those who, from everyday life, work to rebuild the social fabric.
“Let us move forward without tiring, with courage and, above all, together,” he exhorted, underscoring that peace comes through a personal and communal conversion that allows overcoming years of confrontation.