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When Pope Leo arrived in Cameroon Wednesday, many Cameroonians expected him to task its leaders with resolving the country’s issues, and he did not fall short.
Right inside the presidential palace, before President Paul Biya, 93, who has ruled for 44 years, the Pope hammered on corruption.
Pope Leo calls Issues by name
Aside from telling Biya about the need to break the chains of corruption, he decried the conflict in Cameroon’s western regions and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North.
“Your country is facing complex difficulties,” Pope Leo said. “The tensions and violence that have afflicted certain regions of the Northwest, Southwest, and Far North have caused profound suffering: lives have been lost, families displaced, children deprived of schooling, and young people no longer see a future. Behind the numbers are the faces, stories, and shattered hopes of real people.”
After stating these dramatic situations, the Holy Pontiff exhorted the Cameroonian leaders to reject the logic of violence and war and to embrace a peace founded on love and justice.
Peace Can’t be decreed
The Holy Father believes that Biya and his government, through genuine will, are capable of resolving conflicts, opening hearts, and generating trust, empathy, and hope.
“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,” he said.
“Peace, in fact, cannot be decreed: it must be embraced and lived. It is a gift from God, which unfolds through patient and collective effort,” he added.
This message ties in with the country’s realities. The conflict in the Northwest and Southwest has entered its 10th year, and there is no sign of an end in sight.
That is why the Pope told everyone that it is their responsibility to work to bring that peace.
Pope Leo speech contrast to Biya’s response
The coming of the head of the Roman Catholic Church was another moment for Cameroonians to see Paul Biya, last seen during his birthday on February 13. In a rare appearance, Biya welcomed the Pope in front of the Unity Palace, cheered by a mammoth crowd.
After a one-on-one with the Pope Leo, he addressed his visitor. Paul Biya again ignored issues at home and blamed the challenges Cameroon is facing on happenings in the international community.
“Your Holiness, your apostolic journey to Cameroon is taking place within a particularly challenging international context,” Paul Biya said. “The world is being shaken by increasingly serious crises and conflicts that are causing death and desolation. Nations are facing mounting economic difficulties. Poverty continues to spread. People everywhere are suffering.”
The issues Paul Biya highlighted are exactly those happening in his own country. Many Cameroonians have blamed his administration for such economic difficulties.
With Pope Leo calling issues by name, it is hoped that the country’s authorities will give a listening ear and work to overcome them.
