Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday for a four-day visit aimed at promoting peace in a nation torn by nearly a decade of separatist conflict, delivering a sharp message against corruption during his first meeting with President Paul Biya.
Thousands of faithful lined the 25-kilometer route from Yaoundé-Nsimalen airport to the presidential palace, where the 70-year-old pontiff held private talks with Biya, the world's oldest head of state at 93. The meeting has divided Cameroonian Catholics, with clergy expressing concern it could legitimize Biya's disputed eighth-term election victory last October.
Speaking to nearly 2,000 diplomats and government officials at the presidential palace, Leo XIV emphasized the need to combat systemic corruption and protect human rights. He called for authentic peace while insisting that security measures must respect human dignity and protect the most vulnerable.
Security is a priority, but it must always be exercised with respect for human rights, combining rigor and greatness of soul, with particular attention to the most vulnerable
Pope Leo XIV — RFI
The papal visit comes as English-speaking separatists in Cameroon's northwest and southwest regions declared a three-day truce beginning Wednesday. The conflict, which erupted after 2016 demonstrations were violently suppressed, has claimed over 6,000 lives according to human rights organizations.