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Pope Leo XIV is set to arrive in Cameroon on Wednesday, marking the second leg of a high-profile African tour that has already faced geopolitical friction and security concerns. His visit follows a stop in Algeria, where twin suicide attacks in the city of Blida cast a shadow over his opening engagements.
In Cameroon, the pontiff is scheduled to meet President Paul Biya, whose decades-long rule has drawn criticism both domestically and internationally.
The private meeting has stirred divisions among the country’s Catholic community, with some clergy expressing concern that it could “enable Biya to burnish his image” following protests over his contested re-election that were forcefully suppressed. Biya, 93, has been in power since 1982 and is currently serving his eighth term.
Beyond the political sensitivities, the pope’s itinerary includes a pastoral visit to Bamenda, the heart of Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis. The conflict, rooted in longstanding tensions between French- and English-speaking regions, escalated in 2016 after a crackdown on protests. Since then, more than 6,000 people have been killed, according to rights groups.
In Bamenda, the 70-year-old pontiff is expected to pray for peace before a crowd of 20,000 worshippers, reinforcing his message of reconciliation.
The visit comes amid international controversy after Donald Trump recently criticised the Pope, saying he was “not a big fan” after Leo called for peace in the Middle East. US Vice President JD Vance added that the Vatican should “stick to matters of morality.”
Responding calmly, Pope Leo dismissed the remarks, stating: “The Gospel says blessed are the peacemakers.” He further affirmed, “I have no fear, neither of the Trump administration, nor speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel.”
Despite the tensions, preparations in Yaoundé have been extensive, with streets decorated in papal colours. The visit will culminate in a mass in Douala expected to draw hundreds of thousands, before the pope continues his tour to Angola.
