Pope Leo XIV spoke to a large crowd in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, using a key stop on his Africa tour to call for justice, nonviolence, and an end to corruption.
Addressing an estimated 120,000 worshippers at Japoma Stadium, the Catholic leader urged young people to work for the common good. Security was tight for the event, with many attendees arriving a day early and spending the night at the venue to secure seats for the Mass.
“Do not give in to distrust and discouragement. Reject every form of abuse or violence, which deceives by promising easy gains but hardens the heart,” he said in a homily delivered in both English and French.
The visit to Douala came after a stop in Bamenda, a hotspot in Cameroon’s nearly decade-long Anglophone separatist conflict. There, the Pope condemned those who “manipulate the name of God for military and economic gain.”
His wider tour, which began in Algeria and is set to continue in Angola and Equatorial Guinea, has been marked by a more direct tone, including criticism of “neocolonial” influence and violations of international law.
Recent comments on the war in Iran have also sparked tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who described the U.S.-born pontiff as “weak.” However, Pope Leo said in Douala that he has “no fear” of the current U.S. administration.
After the Mass, he was scheduled to visit a Catholic hospital in the city before heading to Yaoundé for a meeting with university students. With nearly 30% of Cameroon’s population identifying as Catholic, the visit has been widely seen by church leaders as a message of hope amid ongoing conflict and post-election unrest.
