Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech as he celebrates a Mass in the Saint Augustine Basilica in Annaba, Algeria, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, on the second day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa.
Andrew Medichini/AP
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Andrew Medichini/AP
ALGIERS, Algeria — Pope Leo XIV is traveling to Cameroon, a central African country, carrying a message of reconciliation for the conflict-ridden separatist region. He is also set to meet with President Paul Biya, who recently extended his grip on power through an election marred by controversy.
The Vatican has indicated that addressing corruption in this resource-rich nation and promoting appropriate political governance are focal points for Leo’s visit, which begins with his arrival in Yaounde, the capital. This visit marks the second destination of his four-nation African tour, having arrived from Algeria.
The Vatican has clearly stated that the teachings of the Catholic Church do not align with the kind of authoritarian leadership that Leo will encounter during his trip, which is notable as Leo is the first American pope to visit the continent.
Biya, aged 93, holds the title of the oldest leader in the world and has governed Cameroon since 1982.
Upon his arrival in Yaounde, Leo is scheduled to meet President Biya at the presidential palace. Following this meeting, he will address members of the Cameroonian government, civil servants, and diplomats, and later visit a Catholic-run orphanage.
Cameroon officials made a last-minute amendment to the itinerary, as announced by the Vatican on Wednesday. Biya, rather than the prime minister, will now deliver a speech before Leo’s address to government officials. The meeting will take place in the presidential palace instead of a conference center.
A map showing the pope’s planned travel through Africa.
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Will Jarrett/AP
The opposition in Cameroon has challenged the outcome of the election held on October 12, which resulted in Biya’s victory. His main opponent, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, asserts that he was the winner and has urged Cameroonians to reject the declared results.
This week, Leo released a separate statement regarding the appropriate role of political leaders and the necessity for “authentic democracy” to legitimize their authority and serve as a “guardrail against the abuse of power.”
In a message to a Vatican academy for social science, Leo emphasized that democracy can only thrive when it is rooted in morality and a vision that upholds human dignity. “Without this foundation, it risks becoming either a majoritarian tyranny or a mask for the dominance of economic and technological elites,” he cautioned in a message dated April 1, not targeting any specific nation or leader.
A peace meeting and a pause in fighting
In Cameroon, Leo’s agenda includes two significant events, with the main focus being a “peace meeting” on Thursday in Bamenda, a city troubled by separatist violence.
In 2017, English-speaking separatists began an uprising with the goal of seceding from the French-speaking majority in Cameroon to form an independent English-speaking state. This conflict has resulted in over 6,000 deaths and displaced more than 600,000 people, according to the International Crisis Group.
On the eve of Leo’s visit, English-speaking separatists declared a three-day cessation of hostilities to facilitate “safe travel” for his visit.
The Unity Alliance, comprising several separatist factions, issued a statement on Monday night noting that the pause underscores the “profound spiritual importance” of the visit and aims to ensure the safe travel of civilians, pilgrims, and dignitaries.
Another significant event during Leo’s visit to Cameroon, where approximately 29% of the population is Catholic, is a Mass scheduled for Friday in Douala, with an expected attendance of around 600,000 people.
On Saturday, Leo will proceed to Angola for the third leg of his journey, concluding the tour in Equatorial Guinea next week.
