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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!

Departure from Algeria and Farewell Ceremony

At 9.15 this morning, after celebrating Holy Mass in private and taking leave of the Apostolic Nunciature, the Holy Father briefly visited the Notre Dame d’Afrique Nursery, managed by the Missionary Sisters of Charity. The children staged a short performance for the Pope, who greeted them and the religious sisters at the end of the visit. The Holy Father then transferred by care to Houari Boumédiène International Airport in Algiers for the farewell ceremony from Algeria.

Upon arrival, the Pope was received by the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, His Excellency Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at the entrance of the Salon d’Honneur . They proceeded to the VIP Room together for a private meeting, which was followed by the farewell ceremony.

After the national anthems, the Honour to the Flags, the passing of the Guard of Honour and the greeting of the respective delegations, Pope Leo XIV boarded an ITA Airways Airbus A330-900neo, which departed at 10.16 bound for Cameroon.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father is expected to arrive at Yaoundé-Nsimalen at 15.20 local time.

 

Telegram to the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

Immediately after departure, Pope Leo XIV sent the following telegram to the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria:

Telegram

His Excellency Abdelmadjid Tebboune President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Algiers

As I depart from the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, I express my deep gratitude to Your Excellency and to all the beloved Algerian people for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to me during my visit. With the assurance of my prayers, I invoke upon the Nation the divine blessings of peace and joy.

Leo PP. XIV

Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Jean-Marie Vianney Musul Masas, until now chancellor of the metropolitan archdiocese of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese, assigning him the titular see of Satafis.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Jean-Marie Vianney Musul Masas was born on 23 August 1974 in Fungurume, archdiocese of Lubumbashi. After attending the Saint François Xavier de Sales Minor Seminary in Lubumbashi (1988-1994), he was awarded a master’s degree in philosophy at the University of Lubumbashi. He then carried out his studies in theology at the Saint Paul Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Lubumbashi.

He was ordained a priest on 25 July 2009.

He has held the following offices: parish priest of Saint Augustin in Lubumbashi (2009-2011), chaplain of the Pious Sisters Disciples of the Divine Master and the Sisters of the Charité de Jésus et Marie in Lubumbashi (2011-2020), adjunct secretary-general of the diocesan Synod and parish administrator of Saint Jean Paul II (2012), and to date, diocesan chancellor and master of ceremonies (since 2011) and Sunday vicar at Notre Dame de la Paix in Lubumbashi (since 2015).