Pope Leo XIV. arrived in Cameroon with an urgent message of peace and dialogue. He will also meet with President Paul Biya in the conflict-ridden country.
Pope Leo XIV. began a three-day visit to Cameroon where he will meet with President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest sitting leader. The Pope’s plane landed in the capital Yaoundé shortly before 3 p.m. local time. During the flight, the Pope appealed for respect for diversity among nations and emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence. His words followed a recent visit to Algeria, where he highlighted the importance of dialogue between communities with different faiths.
- Pope Leo XIV began a three-day visit to Cameroon with a political dimension.
- The Pope’s plane landed in the capital Yaoundé shortly before 3:00 p.m.
- During the flight, the Pope emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence between different nations.
- President Paul Biya is facing criticism after protests and allegations of rigged elections.
- There is a bloody conflict between separatists and government forces in western Cameroon.
“Even though we have different faiths, different ways of worshiping and different ways of life, we can live together in peace,” the Pope said. According to him, the spread of this idea is crucial for the current world, which is facing many challenges associated with division and conflicts.
President Biya and the challenges of Cameroon
President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982, has faced criticism for the way he runs the country. After last year’s elections, which the opposition described as rigged, protests broke out in Cameroon. In addition, the country is struggling with high levels of poverty, unemployment and inadequate public services. Despite these problems, Biya rejects any allegations of corruption.
On Thursday, the Pope plans to visit the English-speaking western part of Cameroon, where the conflict between separatist rebels and government forces is ongoing. This conflict has already claimed thousands of lives. It is expected that Leo XIV. there he will deliver a message of peace and call for an end to violence.
