Pope Leo XIV has addressed a massive crowd in Cameroon, using one of the biggest stages of his Africa tour to preach a message of justice and nonviolence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing about 120,000 faithful in Douala, the Roman Catholic leader called on the city\u2019s youth to reject violence and corruption to pursue the common good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His homily in English and French said: \u201cDo not give in to distrust and discouragement. Reject every form of abuse or violence, which deceives by promising easy gains but hardens the heart\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo not forget that your people are even richer than this land, for your treasure lies in your values: faith, family, hospitality and work,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Security was tight for Friday Mass. Cameroonians started \u200cfiling into the Japorma stadium the day before, staying overnight to see the pontiff in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was difficult \u2013 the cold, the mosquitoes and everything,\u201d \u200cKevin Kaegam told the Reuters news agency. \u201cBut since we want to see the supreme pontiff, we had no choice\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Leo was later due to visit a Catholic hospital in the city, before heading to the capital, Yaounde, to meet students at the Catholic University of Central Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His stop in Douala, Cameroon\u2019s largest city and economic hub, follows a visit yesterday to the western city of Bamenda. It is the epicentre of a nearly decade-long English-speaking separatist insurgency that has killed thousands. There, he\u00a0appealed for peace\u00a0and criticised those \u201cwho manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cameroon is the second stop of the four-country African tour. It\u00a0started in Algeria\u00a0and includes Angola and Equatorial Guinea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a new, forceful speaking \u2060style, Pope Leo has condemned violations of international law by \u201cneocolonial\u201d world powers and said \u201cthe whims of the rich \u2060and powerful\u201d threaten peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His comments critical of the war in Iran have\u00a0angered US President Donald Trump, who called the first US-born pontiff \u201cweak\u201d and \u201cterrible for foreign policy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Leo responded that he has \u201cno fear of the Trump administration\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a population 30 percent Catholic, Cameroon faces a series of social and security crises, including the Anglophone conflict and the fallout from\u00a0deadly post-election protests\u00a0last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crowds have been enthusiastic, lining the streets and wearing colourful fabrics featuring images of his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cameroonian Bishop Leopold Bayemi Matjei called Leo\u2019s visit \u201ca moment of great joy\u201d \u200cand said he hoped it meant God would bless Cameroon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur country needs a lot of blessing, a powerful blessing, so that hope will come to \u200crise \u200cagain,\u201d said the bishop, who leads the church in Obala, north of Yaounde.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pope Leo XIV has addressed a massive crowd in Cameroon, using one of the biggest stages of his Africa tour to preach a message of justice and nonviolence. Addressing about 120,000 faithful in Douala, the Roman Catholic leader called on the city\u2019s youth to reject violence and corruption to pursue the common good. His homily […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41208,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,261,33],"tags":[7,262,34],"class_list":{"0":"post-41207","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"category-religion-2","9":"category-travel","10":"tag-apie-project","11":"tag-religion-3","12":"tag-travel"},"yoast_head":"\n