Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace, Condemns Tyranny in Cameroon
Pope Leo XIV visited Cameroon’s conflict-affected Anglophone regions, urging peace and condemning war profiteering and exploitation. His visit coincides with a temporary ceasefire by separatist fighters and ongoing tensions with U.S. leadership over war rhetoric.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewand Calls for Peace Pope Leo traveled to Cameroon’s western Anglophone region, where he delivered a message condemning war, exploitation, and the manipulation of religion for political and economic gain.
His visit to the city of Bamenda drew large crowds and included a peace meeting with religious and traditional leaders aimed at promoting interfaith cooperation to end the nearly decade-long conflict. The pope emphasized the need for a “decisive change of course” away from violence and resource exploitation, stating that the world is “ravaged by a handful of tyrants” but held together by many supportive people.
United States-Israeli war in Iran.
The conflict in Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions began in 2017 when separatists launched a rebellion seeking independence from the French-speaking majority.
The conflict has resulted in over 6,000 deaths and displaced more than 600,000 people. A federal jury in the US convicted two individuals of conspiracy to provide funds and equipment to the separatist fighters and arrests in Belgium related to investigations into residents suspected of being among the separatist leaders and raising money for them.
Cameroon’s economy relies heavily on resource extraction, including oil, natural gas, cobalt, bauxite, iron ore, gold, and diamonds.
The pope highlighted how profits from these resources often fund weapons, perpetuating violence and instability. While French and English companies have historically dominated mining, Chinese firms have recently increased their presence, especially in gold mining.
fighters declared a three-day pause in hostilities to allow the pope safe passage, described by a separatist spokesperson as a commitment to responsibility and respect for human dignity amid ongoing conflict.
Despite this, peace talks mediated internationally remain stalled, with both sides accusing each other of bad faith. During his visit, the pope urged leaders to examine their "conscience" and tackle corruption and to serve as bridges, never as sources of division, even when insecurity seems prevalent.
