15/04/2026
“Peace cannot be reduced to a slogan: it must be embodied in a way of life that renounces all forms of violence, both personally and institutionally,” Pope Leo XIV said in his address to authorities, representatives of civil society and members of the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace in Yaoundé, Cameroon, today April 15."
Pope Leo XIV thanks President Paul Biya, the authorities, and the diplomatic corps for their welcome, and expresses his joy at visiting Cameroon, described as “Africa in miniature” because of its rich diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions. He says this diversity is a treasure and a foundation for peace and fraternity.
He explains that he comes as a pastor and servant of dialogue, fraternity, and peace, to show the affection of the Holy See for the Cameroonian people and to encourage them to continue building the common good. He especially addresses young people, calling them to help shape a more just society, including through political life. He also expresses his wish to strengthen cooperation between the Holy See and Cameroon on the basis of mutual respect, human dignity, and religious freedom.
Recalling the visits of Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI, he says their messages of hope, reconciliation, justice, peace, and moral responsibility remain important. He asks what fruit those past appeals have borne and what still remains to be done.
Quoting Saint Augustine, he underlines that authority is a form of service, not domination. Leaders are called to serve the common good of all people, majorities and minorities alike, with vision, integrity, and compassion.
Turning to Cameroon’s present difficulties, he speaks of the tensions and violence affecting parts of the country, which have brought suffering, displacement, interrupted education, and hopelessness for many young people. He renews his call to reject violence and war and to embrace a peace rooted in love and justice: a “disarmed” and “disarming” peace capable of healing conflicts, opening hearts, and restoring trust and hope. He insists that peace cannot remain a slogan but must become a personal and institutional way of life.
He stresses that peace is a gift from God but also a shared responsibility, especially for civil authorities. Governing, he says, means loving one’s country and one’s neighbors, listening sincerely to citizens, and involving the poor in decisions that affect them, not merely acting on their behalf.
The Pope highlights the essential role of civil society in national cohesion: associations, youth and women’s groups, unions, NGOs, and traditional and religious leaders are vital in supporting victims, opening dialogue, encouraging mediation, and promoting respect for differences. He gives special attention to women, describing them as tireless builders of peace whose voices must be fully included in decision-making.
He then emphasizes the need for transparency in public life, respect for the rule of law, and human-rights-based security. Public authority, he says, should unite rather than divide. Peace grows when people feel protected, listened to, and respected. He calls for both institutional collaboration and personal integrity among leaders, and says corruption must be overcome because the true goal is integral human development.
Looking ahead, he says Cameroon has the human, cultural, and spiritual resources needed to overcome its trials and move toward stability and shared prosperity. He identifies young people as the hope of both country and Church, and insists on the importance of investing in their education, training, and entrepreneurship to prevent the loss of talent and the growth of social problems.
Finally, he praises the deep spirituality of young Cameroonians and says religious traditions, when not distorted by extremism, can support peace, justice, forgiveness, and solidarity. He encourages interreligious dialogue and the involvement of religious leaders in mediation. He reaffirms that the Catholic Church in Cameroon, through its schools, health services, and charitable works, wants to continue serving all citizens without distinction and to cooperate loyally with public authorities and all forces of the nation.
He closes with a prayer that God should bless Cameroon, guide its leaders, inspire civil society and the diplomatic corps, and grant all Cameroonians the grace to build together a future of justice and peace.
