Pope Leo XIV called on Cameroonian leaders and society to turn peace into concrete action, warning against reducing it to mere slogans, as he began his apostolic journey to the Central African nation on Wednesday.
Addressing authorities, civil society representatives and the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace shortly after arriving in Yaoundé, the pontiff described Cameroon as “Africa in miniature” due to its cultural and natural diversity.
“This variety is not weakness but a treasure,” he said, adding that it offers “a promise of fraternity and a solid foundation for building lasting peace.”
Presenting himself as “a shepherd and a servant of dialogue, fraternity and peace,” Pope Leo XIV said the visit aimed to show closeness to all Cameroonians and encourage efforts toward the common good amid widespread global discouragement.
He acknowledged “a hunger and thirst for justice… for courageous choices and for peace,” particularly among young people, whom he urged to play an active role in building a more just society.
The Pope spoke candidly about the “profound suffering” caused by ongoing violence in regions including the Northwest, Southwest and Far North, where lives have been lost, families displaced and hopes shattered.
“Behind the numbers are the faces, stories and shattered hopes of real people,” he said.
Renewing an earlier appeal, he urged rejection of “the logic of violence and war” in favour of a peace “founded on love and justice.” He described true peace as “unarmed” and “disarming,” capable of opening hearts and fostering trust.
“The world is thirsting for peace… Enough of war,” the Pope insisted, stressing that peace “must not be reduced to a slogan” but “must be embraced and lived” in daily life and through institutions.
He reminded leaders that authority, drawing on Saint Augustine, is a form of service exercised “not from a love of power, but from a sense of the duty they owe to others,” requiring dedication to the good of all, including minorities.
Pope Leo XIV praised the work of civil society groups, women’s organisations, youth movements and religious leaders as “tireless peacemakers,” calling for women’s voices to be fully recognised in decision-making.
He warned against corruption, which “disfigures authority and strips it of its credibility,” and emphasised investing in youth education and entrepreneurship as “a strategic choice for peace.”
The address marked the first major public event of the Pope’s African apostolic journey, which also includes stops in Algeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
