Cameroon celebrates as Pope Leo announces visit: His presence will be a great blessing

Paul Samasumo - Vatican City

The Holy See Press Office announced this week that Pope Leo XIV’s April 2026 Apostolic Journey to Africa will span ten days. The visit will cover Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.

Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda expressed his heartfelt enthusiasm about the visit.

“It is with great joy that we received the announcement of the Pope's visit to Cameroon. I am glad first of all as a Catholic Christian, secondly as the Archbishop of Bamenda, who is going to receive the Pope in his diocese, and thirdly as the President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, during whose mandate the Pope is coming to Cameroon,” Archbishop Nkea told Vatican News.

Ambassador of reconciliation

The Bamenda prelate said, “The Pope comes as a messenger of peace, an ambassador of reconciliation, and a promoter of justice.”

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit key Cameroonian locations—Yaounde the capital, Bamenda, and Douala.

The visit to Bamenda in the Northwest Region is significant. Despite ongoing challenges arising from the Anglophone crisis—including deadly violence, abductions, disruption to education, and displacement—the Pope’s presence will no doubt shines as a beacon of solidarity and hope for healing and possibly lasting peace.

The Anglophone crisis

Analysts suggest Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis remains deadlocked, with no apparent breakthrough dialogue between the Government and the Separatists.

The Government had initially hoped for an outright military victory, against the militias, but success has eluded them. Various pro-independence militias, some operating independently from political leaders in exile, have lost popular support because of their actions. In the end, the conflict has exacted a heavy toll on ordinary people: More than 1,800 people have died, around 500,000 have been internally displaced, and tens of thousands have fled as refugees, especially to Nigeria. Both government forces and separatist militias have been implicated in committing atrocities.

Pope Leo will thus find people filled with anticipation in the Anglophone area. The Pontiff’s visit is historic and will inspire a sense of renewal.

Archbishop Nkea summed-up the visit thus: “Cameroon has faced many difficulties, and the Pope comes as a messenger of peace.” He added, “We thank God and the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, who has decided that his first visit to Africa will include Cameroon. We are all very, very happy.”