Pope Leo XIV in Cameroon: How di Catholic leader visit go hapun

Pope Leo go visit Cameroon on Wednesday on di second leg of im Africa tour.

Im visit dey come at a time wen di kontri dey struggle wit one conflict wey don go on for almost a decade for dia two Anglophone regions.

Pope Leo go spend di next three days for Cameroon. E go meet wit govment and religious officials, e go visit orphanage and one hospital, e go also celebrate series of masses.

For di course of di visit, di Pope go tour three cities, wey include Bamenda, di capital of di kontri North-West region.

Di city dey regarded as di centre of Cameroon conflict between Anglophone separatists and state forces. Di conflict between di separatist fighters and govment forces don go on for close to 10 years.

Pope Leo start im four nation trip for Algeria, wia e promote interfaith dialogue and forgiveness.

Im visit to Cameroon go dey highlighted by one symbolic mass for Bamenda, one city for di heart of di armed conflict for di kontri two Anglophone regions.

For di city of Bamenda, di pope dey expected to deliver strong message of peace and reconciliation.

Since kasala burst for 2017, di Catholic Church don repeatedly call for dialogue and peaceful resolution to di crisis.

Di pope decision to hold mass for Bamenda dey seen as symbolic gesture, plus possible step towards a return to normal life.

Ahead of di visit, Anglophone separatists bin announce three day break in hostilities to allow worshippers to fit attend di pope mass.

Leaders of several armed and secessionist groups tok say di three day measure na in recognition of di "profound spiritual importance" of di papal visit and di need to safeguard civilian life.

Unity Alliance say di decision to pause di fighting "show deliberate commitment to responsibility, restraint, and respect for human dignity, even for di face of di ongoing conflict".

Dem add say di Pope visit suppose remain "spiritual" and "pastoral" in nature, and dem warn against any politicisation of di event.

While di Cameroonian, francophone-dominated government neva react to di announcement, authorities say dem don take appropriate measures to ensure security for cities wey dey scheduled to host di Pope.

Pope Leo Itinerary for Cameroon

Wednesday, 15 April

Cameroon dey ginger to welcome Pope Leo on Wednesday, April 15—dia fourth papal visit.

.Arrival of Pope Leo XIV to di Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport.

.E go pay Courtesy visit to President Paul Biya for di Unity Palace.

.Di Pope go later meet wit authorities, members of di civil society and members of di diplomatic corps for di Yaounde Conference Centre.

.Dat same Wednesday, di Pope go visit Ngul Zamba orphanage and hold private meeting wit Bishops for di headquarters of di Episcopal Conference.

Thursday, 16 April

Di Pope go comot Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport for di Bamenda Airport.

E go meet wit di community for Bamenda for di Saint Joseph Cathedral.

Celebration of Mass for di Bamenda Airport

E go leave Bamenda Airport for Yaounde Arrival for di Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport.

Friday, 17 April

.Pope Leo go comot Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport to Douala and land for di Douala International Airport.

.Celebration of Mass for di Japoma Stadium.

.E go hold private visit to di St. Paul Catholic Hospital

.E go comot Douala International Airport for Yaounde and arrive for di Yaounde

Nsimalen International Airport.

.E go hold meeting wit di university community for di Catholic University of Central Africa.

Officials don tok say all di sites wey di Pope go visit go be free of charge for visitors.

Pope Leo tour go include stops for 11 cities across four countries in Africa.

Dis na im second major foreign visit since e dey elected to di papacy last year, and e show di importance of Catholicism for Africa.

More dan one fifth of di world Catholics dey for Africa, some 288 million pipo, according to figures from 2024.