Pope Leo XIV. he called for peace and “respect for human rights” in a speech at the presidential palace in Cameroon on Wednesday. At the same time, he asked the Cameroonian government to fight corruption. TASR informs about it according to the Reuters and AFP agencies. “True peace arises when everyone feels protected, heard and respected, when the law serves as a reliable guarantee against the whims of the rich and powerful,” the Pope said.
“In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption that disgrace the authorities and rob them of their credibility must be broken… Hearts must be freed from the idolatrous desire for profit,” said Leo XIV. “Safety is a priority, but must always be applied with respect for human rights,” he added. The Pope also delivered his speech in front of Cameroonian President Paul Biya, whose government brutally suppressed protests sparked by his controversial re-election to an eighth term last October, AFP recalls.
At age 93, Biya is the world’s oldest sitting head of state and has ruled Cameroon since 1982. Before the Pope’s speech, he noted that his visit came at a time of global war and economic hardship. “In this impending chaos, the message of peace and harmony you bring resonates with particular force in our hearts,” Biya declared. Reuters reported that the pope’s speech on Wednesday was unusually direct for a foreign trip. The Cameroonian president is said to have listened to him without any visible reaction. His government denies allegations of corruption and human rights violations.
The head of the Catholic Church arrived in Cameroon for a three-day visit in the afternoon. The streets were filled with crowds of people who warmly welcomed him to this Central African country. The pope’s last public stop on Wednesday was an orphanage in the capital Yaoundé, followed by a private meeting with bishops. On Thursday, Leo XIV. will travel to the English-speaking western part of Cameroon, where the ongoing conflict between separatist rebels and government forces has left thousands dead. He is expected to deliver a message of peace there.
