Pope Condemns Violence and Exploitation in Cameroon Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for over 120,000 people in Douala, Cameroon, urging an end to abuse and violence and promoting faith-driven development. His visit highlighted the nation's complex challenges, including internal conflict, jihadist threats, and concerns over foreign economic exploitation. Pope Leo XIV recently concluded a significant visit to Cameroon, where he celebrated Mass for an estimated 120,000 faithful at a stadium in Douala. During his address, the pontiff implored attendees to actively "reject every form of abuse or violence" and to "multiply your talents through faith." This large-scale religious gathering in Douala followed a similar Mass the previous day in Bamenda, western Cameroon. The region of Bamenda has endured years of protracted conflict stemming from a separatist war initiated by the English-speaking population against the Francophone government of President Paul Biya, who has held power for an extensive period. The Pope's presence in Cameroon occurred against a backdrop of heightened violence that has characterized the nation over the past decade. Beyond the internal strife between English and French-speaking communities, with the former group seeking secession to establish the nation of Ambazonia in 2017, Cameroon has also become a focal point for jihadist insurgencies. Situated adjacent to Nigeria's eastern border, radical Islamist factions such as Boko Haram have gradually extended their influence within Cameroon by forging alliances with separatist groups and infiltrating local governmental structures, posing a considerable threat to Cameroonian Christians, who constitute approximately 38 percent of the population and identify as Roman Catholic. In addition to engaging with the Catholic community, Pope Leo XIV dedicated time to fostering interfaith dialogue, meeting with imams and other prominent Muslim leaders in the country. At the Friday Mass in Douala, the pontiff addressed issues of materialism and poverty, urging listeners to eschew greed and to strive for universal nourishment. He stressed the importance of spiritual development as a necessary complement to addressing material needs. "The food that sustains the body must be accompanied, with equal charity, by nourishment for the soul — a nourishment that sustains our conscience and steadies us in dark hours of fear and amid the shadows of suffering," he declared. Addressing the youth specifically, he exhorted them to "Multiply your talents through faith, perseverance, and friendship." He further encouraged them to be proactive in their communities: "Be the first faces and hands that bring the bread of life to your neighbors, providing them with the food of wisdom and deliverance from all that does not nourish them, but rather obscures good desires and robs them of their dignity." He also offered words of encouragement, advising, "Do not give in to distrust and discouragement." "Reject every form of abuse or violence, which deceives by promising easy gains but hardens the heart and makes it insensitive. Do not forget that your people are even richer than this land, for your treasure lies in your values: faith, family, hospitality, and work." During his Thursday Mass in Bamenda, attended by roughly 20,000 people according to Vatican News, Pope Leo's remarks took on a more political tone. He appeared to issue condemnations of both President Biya's administration and external exploitative forces, such as China, which have a significant presence in the nation. His statements decried corruption and poverty in the management of resources, noting how these issues impede institutional and infrastructural development. "Added to these internal problems, which are often fueled by hatred and violence, is the damage caused from outside, by those who, in the name of profit, continue to lay their hands on the African continent to exploit and plunder it," he commented. While the Pope did not explicitly name China, President Biya has maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties with the Communist Party, notably through participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This initiative is characterized by unfavorable loan terms offered to developing nations, which can subsequently lead to a loss of sovereignty and increased Chinese control when these countries struggle with repayment. Biya's most recent visit to Beijing on September 24 involved discussions with Xi Jinping regarding trade and the expansion of Chinese influence within Cameroon. During that meeting, Biya reportedly stated, "With its advantageous geographical location and high-quality human resources, Cameroon welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in the country and help Cameroon translate its advantages in mineral resources and other areas into drivers for development." Pope Leo also convened a separate peace meeting in Bamenda where he reiterated his criticism of foreign powers exploiting African resources. Vatican News reported that the Catholic leader criticized the practice of "people who take the resources from the African lands in turn use the money for weapons, perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilization and death.'" In a country led by the world's oldest president, who has served for 44 years, Pope Leo lamented the global landscape, stating that the world "is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters." Radio France Internationale (RFI) indicated in its reporting that the Pope's "remarks were directed in part at President Paul Biya." Nevertheless, the Pope did meet with President Biya as one of his initial engagements in Cameroon. Human rights experts have identified Cameroon as one of the most perilous locations globally for practicing Christianity, a significant observation given that the majority of Cameroonians are Christians