Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

At 8.05 (local time), the Holy Father travelled by car to Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport from where, after taking leave of some local leaders, he departed on board an ITA Airways Airbus A330-900neo, bound for Douala.

Upon arriving at Douala International Airport at 9.24, the Pope was received by some local authorities. He then transferred by car to Japoma Stadium for Holy Mass on the Friday of the second week of Easter.

At 11.00, after a tour among the faithful by popemobile, the Pope presided over the Eucharistic celebration.

After the introductory rites and the liturgy of the Word, the Holy Father delivered his homily.

At the end of Holy Mass, Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala addressed some words of thanks to the Holy Father.

The Pope will return to the sacristy and then, at 13.00, he will transfer by car to the Catholic Hospital of Saint Paul in Douala, where he will be received by the director of the structure.

Following the private visit, the Holy Father will return by car to Douala International Airport where, after taking leave of some local authorities, he is scheduled to depart at 14.10, bound for Yaoundé.

Upon arrival, expected at 15.20 local time, the Pope will return to the Apostolic Nunciature.

The following is the homily delivered by Pope Leo XIV during the celebration:

 

Homily of the Holy Father

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Gospel we have heard ( Jn  6:1-15) is the word of salvation for all humanity.  This Good News is proclaimed today throughout the world; for the Church in Cameroon, it resounds as a providential proclamation of God’s love and of our communion.

The Apostle John describes a large crowd (cf. vv. 2-5), just as we are here now.  For all those people, however, there is very little food: only “five barley loaves and two fish” (v. 9).  Observing this disproportion, Jesus asks us today, just as he asked his disciples then:  how will you solve this problem?  Look at all these hungry people, weighed down by fatigue.  What will you do?

This question is posed to each one of us. It is posed to the fathers and mothers who care for their families.  It is directed to the shepherds of the Church, who watch over the Lord’s flock, and also to those who bear social and political responsibility for the people and seek their well-being.  Christ asks this question to the powerful and the weak, to the rich and the poor, to the young and the elderly, because we all hunger in the same way.  Our necessity reminds us that we are creatures.  We need to eat in order to live.  We are not God: but where is God in the face of people’s hunger?

While awaiting our answers, Jesus gives his own:  “Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted” (v. 11).  A serious problem was solved by blessing the little food that was present and sharing it with all who were hungry.  The multiplication of the loaves and the fish happened while sharing: that is the miracle!  There is bread for everyone if it is given to everyone.  There is bread for everyone if it is taken, not with a hand that snatches away, but with a hand that gives.  Let us observe Jesus’ gesture closely:  when the Son of God took the bread and the fish, he first gave thanks.  He was grateful to the Father for that which would become a gift and a blessing for all the people.

In this way, the food was abundant.  It was not rationed out of necessity.  It was not stolen in strife.  It was not wasted by those who gorge themselves in the presence of those who have nothing to eat.  Passing from the hands of Christ to those of his disciples, the food increased for everyone; indeed, it was superabundant (cf. vv. 12-13).  Amazed by what Jesus had done, the people exclaimed:  “This is indeed the prophet!” (v. 14), that is, the one who speaks in God’s name, the Word of the Almighty.  It was true!  However, Jesus did not use those words for personal gain.  He did not want to become king (cf. v. 15), because he had come to serve with love, not to dominate.

The miracle he performed is a sign of this love.  It shows us not only how God provides humanity with the bread of life, but how we can share this sustenance with all men and women who, like ourselves, hunger for peace, freedom and justice.  Each act of solidarity and forgiveness, every good effort, becomes a morsel of bread for humanity in need of care.  Yet this alone is not enough: 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.  This food is Christ himself, who always gives his Church abundant sustenance and strengthens us on our journey by giving us his Eucharistic Body.

Sisters and brothers, the Eucharist that we are celebrating is the source of renewed faith, because Jesus becomes present among us.  The Sacrament does not merely revive a distant memory; it brings about a “companionship” that transforms us because it sanctifies us.  Blessed are those invited to the Supper of the Lord!  This very altar, around which we gather for the Eucharist, becomes a proclamation of hope amid the trials of history and the injustices we see around us.  It is a sign of God’s love; in Christ, the Father invites us to share what we have, so that it may be multiplied in ecclesial fellowship.

The Lord embraces heaven and earth.  He knows our hearts and all the situations — joyful or sorrowful — that we experience.  By becoming man to save us, he chose to share in the simplest and most everyday needs of humanity.  Hunger thus speaks to us not only of our poverty but, above all, of his love.  Let us remember this every time we see in their eyes a brother or sister who lacks life’s necessities.  Through their eyes, the question that Jesus posed to his disciples is repeated:  “What are you going to do for all these people?”  Being witnesses of Christ and imitating his acts of love certainly involves difficulties and obstacles, from without and from within us, where pride can corrupt the heart.  In those circumstances, however, let us repeat with the psalmist: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” ( Ps  27:1).  Even if we sometimes falter, God always encourages us.  “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord” (v. 14).

Dear young people, I would like to extend this invitation especially to you, as you are the beloved children of the African continent!  As brothers and sisters of Jesus, multiply your talents through the faith, perseverance, and friendship that inspire you.  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.

Despite the richness of the land in Cameroon, many experience both material and spiritual poverty.  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.  Be, therefore, protagonists of the future, following the vocation that God gives to each of you.  Do not let yourselves be corrupted by temptations that waste your energies and do not serve the progress of society.

In order to make your noble spirit the prophetic voice of a new world, learn from the example that we have just heard in the Acts of the Apostles.  The first Christians gave courageous witness to the Lord Jesus in the face of difficulties and threats, and persevered even amid persecution (cf.  Acts  5:40-41).  The disciples “every day in the temple and at home… did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah” (v. 42), that is, the Christ, the Liberator of the world.  Yes, the Lord frees us from sin and death.  Proclaiming this Gospel unceasingly is the mission of every Christian, and it is a mission that I entrust especially to you, dear young people, and to the entire Church in Cameroon.  Become Good News for your country, just like Blessed Floribert Bwana Chui is for the Congolese people.

Brothers and sisters, teaching leaves a sign, like the mark of the farmer’s plow in the field, which enables what is sown to bear fruit.  In a similar way, Christian proclamation changes our lives, transforming minds and hearts.  Proclaiming the risen Jesus means leaving signs of justice in a suffering and oppressed land, signs of peace amid rivalry and corruption, signs of faith that free us from superstition and indifference.  With this Gospel message in our hearts, we will shortly share the Eucharistic Bread that sustains us for eternity.  With joyful faith, let us ask the Lord to multiply his gift among us for the good of all.

Upon arrival in Yaoundé, the Holy Father transferred to the Catholic University of Central Africa for the meeting with university students and staff.

As he arrived in the courtyard of the university campus, the Pope was received by the Rector Magnificus, Thomas Bienvenu Tchoungui.

After the welcome bymn, the greeting from the Rector Magnificus and some testimonies, interspersed with musical interludes, Pope Leo XIV delivered his address.

At the end of the meeting, after the blessing and the closing hymn, the Holy Father returned to the apostolic nunciature, where dined privately.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present during the meeting:



Address of the Holy Father

Grand Chancellor, Dear brothers in the Episcopate, Reverend Rector, Distinguished members of the faculty, Dear students, Distinguished academic authorities, Ladies and Gentlemen!

It gives me great joy to address you at the Catholic University of Central Africa, a center of excellence for research, the transmission of knowledge and the formation of so many young people.  I express my gratitude to the academic authorities for their warm welcome and for their constant commitment to the service of education.  It is a source of hope that this institution, founded in 1989 by the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa, may serve as a beacon for the Church and for Africa in its search for truth, as well as its promotion of justice and solidarity.

Today more than ever, it is necessary that universities — and all the more so Catholic institutions of higher learning — become true communities of life and research, introducing students and professors alike to a fraternity in knowledge, “as an intrinsic requirement for experiencing in community the joy of the Truth and appreciating more fully its meaning and practical implications.  Today our proclamation of the Gospel and the Church’s doctrine are called to promote a culture of encounter, in generous and open cooperation with all the positive forces that contribute to the growth of universal human consciousness.  A culture, we might say, of encounter between all the authentic and vital cultures, thanks to a reciprocal exchange of the gifts of each in that luminous space opened up by God’s love for all his creatures.  As Pope  Benedict XVI  pointed out, ‘truth, in fact, is  logos  which creates  dia-logos , and hence communication and communion’” (Francis, Apostolic Constitution  Veritatis Gaudium , 4b).

Indeed, at a time when many in the world seem to be losing their spiritual and ethical points of reference, finding themselves imprisoned in individualism, superficiality and hypocrisy, the university stands out as a privileged place of friendship, cooperation and, at the same time, of interiority and reflection.  From its very origins in the Middle Ages, its founders set Truth as its goal.  Today still, professors and students are called to embrace as both their aim and their way of life the common search for truth, for, as Saint John Henry Newman wrote, “All true principles run over with God, all phenomena converge to him” ( The Idea of a University , Discourse II).

At the same time, what Newman called the “kindly light” — that is, “the light of faith, joined to the truth of love” — is not “extraneous to the material world, for love is always lived out in body and spirit; the light of faith is an incarnate light radiating from the luminous life of Jesus.  It also illumines the material world, trusts its inherent order and knows that it calls us to an ever widening path of harmony and understanding.  The gaze of science thus benefits from faith: faith encourages the scientist to remain constantly open to reality in all its inexhaustible richness.  Faith awakens the critical sense by preventing research from being satisfied with its own formulae and helps it to realize that nature is always greater.  By stimulating wonder before the profound mystery of creation, faith broadens the horizons of reason to shed greater light on the world which discloses itself to scientific investigation” (Francis, Encyclical Letter  Lumen Fidei , 34).

Dear friends, Africa can make a fundamental contribution to broadening the overly narrow horizons of a humanity that struggles to hope.  In your magnificent continent, researchers are especially called to open themselves to interdisciplinary, international and intercultural perspectives.  Today, moreover, there is an urgent need to think about faith within the framework of contemporary cultural contexts and present challenges, so that its beauty and credibility may emerge in diverse settings, especially in those most marked by injustice, inequality, conflict and both material and spiritual degradation.

The greatness of a nation cannot be measured solely by the abundance of its natural resources, nor even by the material wealth of its institutions.  No society, in fact, can flourish unless it is grounded in upright consciences, formed in the truth.  In this sense, the motto of your university — “In the service of truth and justice” — reminds you that the human conscience, understood as the inner sanctuary where men and women discover themselves drawn by the voice of God, is the very ground upon which just and stable foundations for every society must be laid.  To form consciences that are free and endowed with a holy restlessness is a necessary condition for the Christian faith to appear as a fully human proposal.  Such a faith is capable of transforming the lives of individuals and of society, of inspiring prophetic change in the face of the tragedies and forms of poverty of our time, and of encouraging a continual search for God that is never satisfied.

It is indeed within the conscience that moral discernment is formed, by which we freely seek what is true and upright.  When the conscience takes care to be enlightened and rightly formed, it becomes the source of a coherent way of acting, directed toward the good, justice and peace.

In contemporary societies, and therefore in Cameroon too, we can witness an erosion of the moral values that once guided community life.  As a result, today there is a tendency to approve casually certain practices that were once considered unacceptable.  This dynamic can be explained in part by social changes, economic pressures and political forces that shape individual and collective behavior.  Christians, and especially young African Catholics, must not be afraid of “new things.”  Your university, in particular, can form pioneers of a new humanism in the context of the digital revolution.  While the African continent is well acquainted with its alluring aspects, it also knows the darker side of the environmental and social devastation caused by the relentless pursuit of raw materials and rare earths.  Do not look the other way: this is a service to the truth and to all humanity.  Without this demanding educational effort, passive adaptation to dominant paradigms will be mistaken for competence, and the loss of freedom for progress.

This is all the more true in light of the spread of artificial intelligence systems, which increasingly shape and permeate our mentality and social environments.  Like every great historical transformation, this too calls not only for technical competence, but also for a humanistic formation capable of making visible the logic behind economics, embedded biases and forms of power that shape our perception of reality.  Within digital environments — structured to persuade — interaction is optimized to the point of rendering a real encounter superfluous; the otherness of persons in the flesh is neutralized, and relationships are reduced to functional responses.  Dear friends, you, however, are real persons!  Creation itself has a body, a breath, a life to be listened to and safeguarded.  It “groans and suffers” (cf.  Rom  8:22), just as each one of us does.

When simulation becomes the norm, it weakens the human capacity for discernment.  As a result, our social bonds close in upon themselves, forming self-referential circuits that no longer expose us to reality.  We thus come to live within bubbles, impermeable to one another.  Feeling threatened by anyone who is different, we grow unaccustomed to encounter and dialogue.  In this way, polarization, conflict, fear and violence spread.  What is at stake is not merely the risk of error, but a transformation in our very relationship with truth.

It is precisely in this sphere that the Catholic university is called to assume a responsibility of the highest order.  For it does not merely transmit specialized knowledge, but shapes minds capable of discernment and hearts ready for love and service.  Above all, it prepares future leaders, public officials, professionals and other actors in society to carry out with integrity the responsibilities entrusted to them, to exercise their duties with uprightness and to situate their activity within an ethical framework at the service of the common good.

Dear sons and daughters of Cameroon, dear students, in the face of the understandable tendency to migrate — which may lead one to believe that elsewhere a better future may be more easily found — I invite you, first and foremost, to respond with an ardent desire to serve your country and to apply the knowledge you are acquiring here to the benefit of your fellow citizens.  This is the  raison d’être  of your university, founded thirty-five years ago to form pastors of souls and lay people committed to society: these are the witnesses of wisdom and justice, of which the African continent needs.

In this regard, I would like to recall an expression of  Saint John Paul II : the Catholic university is “born from the heart of the Church” (Apostolic Constitution  Ex Corde Ecclesiae , 15 August 1990, 1) and shares in her mission to proclaim the truth that sets us free.  This affirmation refers primarily to an intellectual and spiritual imperative: to seek the truth in all its dimensions, with the conviction that faith and reason are not opposed, but rather support one another.  Moreover, it reminds us that professors and students of the university are involved in the Church’s task of “proclaiming the good news of Christ to all, in dialogue with the different sciences and in the service of a deeper understanding and application of truth in the life of individuals and society” (Francis, Apostolic Constitution  Veritatis Gaudium , 8 December 2017, 5).

In the face of the challenges of our time, the Catholic university occupies a unique and irreplaceable position.  In this regard, let us reflect on the pioneers of this institution, who laid the foundations upon which you build today.  Among them, I recall in a particular way the Reverend Barthélemy Nyom, who served as Rector for most of the 1990s.  Following their example, be ever mindful that, alongside the transmission of knowledge and the development of professional competencies, this university seeks to contribute to the integral formation of the human person.  Spiritual and human accompaniment constitutes an essential dimension of the identity of the Catholic university.  Through spiritual formation, the initiatives of campus pastoral ministry and moments of reflection, students are invited to deepen their interior life and to orient their engagement in society in the light of authentic and enduring values.  In this way, dear students, you learn to become builders of the future of your respective countries and of a world that is more just and humane.

Dear professors, your role is essential.  I therefore encourage you to embody the values you wish to impart — above all justice and fairness, integrity, a spirit of service, and a sense of responsibility.  Africa and the world stand in need of people who are committed to living according to the Gospel and to placing their talents at the service of the common good.  Do not betray this noble ideal!  As well as being intellectual guides, be role models whose scientific rigor and personal integrity form the consciences of your students.  Africa, indeed, must be freed from the scourge of corruption.  For young people, this awareness must take root from their years of formation, thanks to the moral rigor, selflessness and coherence of life shown by their educators and teachers.  Day by day, lay the indispensable foundations for the building of a consistent moral and intellectual identity.  By bearing witness to the truth — especially in the face of the illusions of ideology and passing fashions — you will foster an environment in which academic excellence is naturally united with human uprightness.

Ladies and gentlemen, the principal virtue that must animate the university community is humility.  Whatever our role or our age, we must always remember that we are all disciples — that is, fellow learners with one Teacher, who so loved the world that he gave his life.  I thank you, and I impart to you my heartfelt blessing!

The following is the message, sent on behalf of the Holy Father Leo XIV by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on the occasion of the Second National Meeting of local representatives for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults, taking place in Rome from 16 to 18 April 2026:

 

Message

To His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Matteo Zuppi President of the Italian Episcopal Conference

From the Vatican, 10 April 2026

Your Most Reverend Eminence,

I convey the cordial greetings of the Holy Father Leo XIV to Your Eminence and to the participants in the second national meeting of local representatives for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults, organized by the national service of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

The theme, “Generating authentic relationships”, points to an essential task of Christian communities. Indeed, when every person is recognised in their dignity and their freedom is safeguarded, parishes, associations and movements become trustworthy, capable of accompanying, educating and protecting; where, on the other hand, respect is lacking, relationships become impoverished, distorted and can cause serious harm.

From the Christian perspective, respect is not merely a matter of propriety: it is a demanding form of charity, expressed in safeguarding the other without appropriating them, in accompanying them without dominating them, in serving them without humiliating them. From this root springs the possibility of clear, mature and secure relationships. For this reason, protection cannot be understood merely as a set of rules to be applied or procedures to be followed: it requires a wisdom that permeates the style of communities, the way authority is exercised, the formation of educators, vigilance over contexts, and transparency in behaviour.

The presence of the youngest and the most vulnerable appeals to the conscience of the Church and measures her ability to express authentic care, that is, to protect, to listen, to prevent, and to leave no-one alone. For this reason too, the work of those who promote formation, discernment, coordination and good practice represents a valuable contribution to the development of more welcoming and aware communities.

Special attention must be given to people who have suffered abuse: their wounds call for sincere closeness, humble listening, and perseverance in seeking what is right and possible in order to make amends. A Christian community lives out evangelical conversion when she does not defend herself against the pain of those who have suffered, but allows herself to be challenged by it; when she does not minimise evil, but acknowledges it; when she does not shut herself off in fear of scandal, but accepts to walk the demanding paths of truth, justice and healing.

Your meeting therefore takes on a significance that goes beyond the practical level, calling the Church to grow in a culture of prevention that is, first and foremost, a culture of evangelical care. The performance to be premiered at your conference, Ed io avrò cura di te (“And I Will Take Care of You”), will also contribute to this.

Your Eminence, dear friends, Pope Leo XIV encourages you to continue your work with confidence, so that communities may flourish in the Italian dioceses where the most vulnerable are welcomed, protected and loved. He entrusts each of you, together with your service, to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing upon you.

I too wish you every success in this initiative, and every blessing for your service to the Church and to society.

I take this opportunity to confirm, with the utmost respect,

Your Most Reverend Eminence

yours devotedly in the Lord

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Secretary of State

After leaving the archbishopric, the Holy Father transferred to Bamenda Airport for the celebration of Holy Mass for peace and justice.

Upon arrival, at 14.45 local time, the Pope toured among the faithful by popemobile.

After the introductory rites and the liturgy of the Word, Pope Leo XIV delivered his homily.

At the end of Holy Mass, Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda addressed some words of thanks to the Holy Father.

The Pope subsequently returned to the sacristy and, at 17.30, after taking leave of some local leaders, departed for Yaoundé. The aircraft carrying the Holy Father landed at approximately 18.05. He then returned to the nunciature.

The following is the homily delivered by Pope Leo XIV during the celebration:

 

Homily of the Holy Father

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ ,

As a pilgrim of peace and unity, it is a joy for me to visit your region and, above all, to share in your journey, your struggles and your hopes.

The festive celebrations that accompany your liturgies and the joy that flows from the prayers you raise are signs of your trusting surrender to God, of your unshakeable hope and of your clinging, with all your strength, to the love of the Father who draws near and looks with compassion upon the sufferings of his children.  In the Psalm, we sung together of our trust in the Lord, which we are called to renew today: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit” ( Ps  34:18).

Brothers and sisters, there are many situations in life that break our hearts and plunge us into sorrow.  Our hope for a future of peace and reconciliation, in which the dignity of every human person is respected and their fundamental rights guaranteed, is continually disappointed by the many problems afflicting this beautiful land.  These include the numerous forms of poverty, which even recently have affected so many people amidst an ongoing food crisis. There is moral, social and political corruption, seen above all in the management of wealth, which hinders the development of institutions and infrastructure. We see also the serious problems affecting the education and healthcare systems, as well as large-scale migration to foreign countries, particularly of young people.  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.

All of this can make us feel powerless and diminish our confidence.  Yet this is the moment to change, to transform the story of this country.  The time has come, today and not tomorrow, now and not in the future, to restore the mosaic of unity by bringing together the diversity and riches of the country and the continent.  In this way, it will be possible to create a society in which peace and reconciliation reign.

It is true that when a situation remains the same for some time, there is a risk of giving in to resignation and helplessness, because we expect nothing new.  Yet the word of the Lord opens up new possibilities and brings about transformation and healing.  It is capable of stirring our hearts, of challenging the normal course of events to which we so easily risk becoming accustomed, and of making us active agents of change.  Let us remember this: God is newness, God creates new things, God makes us courageous people who, by confronting evil, build up the good.

We see this in the witness of the Apostles, as we heard in the first reading. While the authorities of the Sanhedrin interrogate the Apostles, rebuking and threatening them because they are publicly proclaiming Christ, they reply: “We must obey God rather than any human authority.  The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree” ( Acts  5:29–30).

The courage of the Apostles becomes a voice of conscience, a prophecy, a denunciation of evil, and this is the first step toward changing things.  In fact, obeying God is not an act of submission that oppresses us or nullifies our freedom; on the contrary, obedience to God sets us free, because it means entrusting our lives to him and allowing his word to inspire our way of thinking and acting.  Thus, as we heard in the Gospel, which recounts the final part of the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus, “the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.  The one who comes from heaven is above all” ( Jn  3:31).  Those who obey God rather than human beings and earthly ways of thinking rediscover their inner freedom, succeed in discovering the value of goodness and do not resign themselves to evil. They find anew their way in life and become builders of peace and fraternity.

Brothers and sisters, consolation for broken hearts and hope for change in society are possible if we entrust ourselves to God and God’s word.  We must, however, always keep the Apostle Peter’s exhortation in our hearts and bring it to mind: obey God, not human beings.  To obey him, because he alone is God.  This calls us to foster inculturation of the Gospel.  It also calls us to be vigilant, even regarding our own religious practices, so as not to fall into the trap of mixing the Catholic faith with other beliefs and traditions of an esoteric or Gnostic nature, which in reality often serve political and economic ends.  Only God sets us free; only his word opens paths to freedom; only his Spirit makes us new people capable of changing this country.

I accompany you with my constant prayer and I bless in particular the Church gathered here: the many priests, missionaries, religious and lay people who all work to be a source of consolation and hope.  I encourage you to continue along this path and I entrust you to the intercession of Mary Most Holy, Queen of the Apostles and Mother of the Church.

At around 9.00 (local time), the Holy Father transferred by car to Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport from where, at 10.05, he departed on board a Camair-Co Boeing 737-700 bound for Bamenda.

Upon arrival at Bamenda Airport at 10.40, the Pope was received by some local leaders. Then, at 11.10, he travelled by car to Saint Joseph’s Cathedral for the Meeting for Peace with the Community of Bamenda.

He arrived at around 11.30 and, accompanied by Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda, he entered the Cathedral via the main entrance.

Following the entrance hymn, the words of welcome from the Archbishop of Bamenda, the choir’s performance and a number of testimonies, the Holy Father delivered his address.

At the end of the meeting, accompanied by representatives of the Bamenda community at the entrance of the Cathedral, the Pope released seven doves as a sign of peace.

He then transferred by car to the archbishopric of Bamenda, where he lunched privately.

The following is the Holy Father’s address to those present at the meeting, and the words he spoke in front of the Cathedral:

 

Address of the Holy Father

Dear sisters and brothers,

It is a joy for me to be with you in this region that has suffered so greatly. As your testimonies have just demonstrated, the lived experience of suffering by your community has only made stronger your conviction that God has never abandoned us! In God, in his peace, we can always begin anew!

His Excellency the Archbishop mentioned the prophecy that exclaims: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace!” ( Is  52:7). He welcomed me with these words, and now I would like to respond: how beautiful are your feet as well, dusty from this bloodstained yet fertile land that has been mistreated, yet is rich in vegetation and fruit. Your feet have brought you this far, and despite the difficulties and obstacles, they have remained on the path of goodness. May we all continue on the path of goodness which leads to peace. I am grateful for your words of welcome, because it is true: I  am  here to proclaim peace. Yet I find it is you who are proclaiming peace to me, and to the entire world. As one of you observed, the crisis impacting these regions of Cameroon has brought Christian and Muslim communities closer than ever before. Indeed, your religious leaders have come together to establish a Movement for Peace, through which they seek to mediate between the opposing sides.

I wish this would happen in so many other places of the world. Your witness, your work for peace can be a model for the whole world! Jesus told us: Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth. Yes, my dear sisters and brothers, you who hunger and thirst for justice, who are poor, merciful, meek, and pure of heart, you who have wept — you are the light of the world! (cf.  Mt  5:3-14). Bamenda, today you are the city on the hill, resplendent in the eyes of all! Sisters and brothers, be the salt that continuously gives flavor to this land. Do not lose your flavor, even in the years to come! Cherish all the shared moments that have brought you together in these times of sorrow. Let us all cherish this day when we have come together to work for peace! Be like oil poured out upon the wounds of your brothers and sisters.

In this regard, I would like to express gratitude to all those, particularly the lay and religious women, who care for individuals traumatized by violence. It is an enormous task that goes unseen day by day, and as Sister Carine reminded us, it is also dangerous. The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet a lifetime is often not enough to rebuild. They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found. Those who rob your land of its resources generally invest much of the profit in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilization and death. It is a world turned upside down, an exploitation of God’s creation that must be denounced and rejected by every honest conscience. We must make a decisive change of course — a true conversion — that will lead us in the opposite direction, onto a sustainable path rich in human fraternity. The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters! They are the descendants of Abraham, as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Let us look into each other’s eyes: we are this immense people! Peace is not something we must invent: it is something we must embrace by accepting our neighbor as our brother and as our sister. We do not choose our brothers and sisters: we simply must accept one another! We are one family, inhabiting the same home: this wonderful planet that ancient cultures have cared for across millennia.

Pope Francis’  insight in the Apostolic Exhortation  Evangelii Gaudium  came to mind as I listened to your words. He wrote, “My mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of my life or a badge I can take off; it is not something ‘extra’ or just another moment in life. Instead, it is something I cannot uproot from my being without destroying my very self. I am a mission on this earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world” ( no. 273 ).

Dear brothers and sisters of Bamenda, it is with these sentiments that I am here today among you! Let us serve peace together! “We have to regard ourselves as sealed, even branded, by this mission of bringing light, blessing, enlivening, raising up, healing and freeing. All around us we begin to see nurses with soul, teachers with soul, politicians with soul, people who have chosen deep down to be with others and for others” ( ibid. ). Thus, my beloved predecessor exhorted us to walk together, each of us according to our own vocation, stretching the boundaries of our communities, beginning with concrete efforts on the local level, in order to love our neighbor, whomever and wherever he or she may be. You are witnesses to this silent revolution! As the Imam said, let us thank God that this crisis has not degenerated into a religious war, and that we are all still trying to love one another! Let us move forward courageously, without losing heart, and above all, together, always together!

Let us walk together, in love, searching always for peace.

[Outside the Cathedral:]

My dear brothers and sisters, today the Lord has chosen all of us to be workers who bring peace to this land! Let us all say a prayer to the Lord, that peace will truly reign among us, that as we release these white doves — a symbol of peace — that God’s peace will be upon all of us, upon this land, and keep us all united in his peace. Praise the Lord!