Pope Leo XIV Condemns Tyrants Manipulating Religion Amid Cameroon Conflict

Pope Leo XIV delivered a forceful appeal for peace in Cameroon, condemning a handful of tyrants.

“He cautioned that those who rob the country’s land of its resources generally invest much of the profit in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilization and death”

ACI Africa

He warned against those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain.

ACI Africa

The pope's remarks came amid his escalating public feud with President Donald Trump.

Leo did not name Trump in his speech but reaffirmed his stance against war.

The pope's visit placed a global spotlight on the violence that has killed more than 6,000 people in Cameroon's Anglophone regions.

The pope's speech came as he toured a region ravaged by an English-speaking separatist conflict.

The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced over 600,000 since 2016.

Africanews

The conflict is rooted in Cameroon's colonial history.

Religious leaders from the English-speaking community have united to seek a solution.

The pope highlighted how the crisis has brought Christian and Muslim communities closer than ever before.

Pope Leo denounced how those who rob the land of its resources invest much of the profit in weapons.

Cameroon sits atop significant reserves of oil, natural gas, cobalt, bauxite, iron ore, gold, and diamonds.

The pope called for a decisive change of course that leads away from conflict and exploitation.

He emphasized that the world is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters.

Pope Leo presided over a peace meeting that included a traditional chief, a Presbyterian moderator, an imam, and a Catholic nun.

The crisis has brought Christian churches and the Muslim faith closer together than ever before.

Al Jazeera

The Imam thanked God that the crisis has not degenerated into a religious war.

The Archbishop of Bamenda recalled the suffering caused by the conflict.

Thousands gathered on the Bamenda airfield for an afternoon Mass.

Pope Leo's speech came days after President Trump sharply criticized the pontiff.

The pope declined to respond directly to the criticism but reaffirmed his position against war.

Al-Jazeera Net

Vice-President JD Vance assailed Leo for speaking out against the war.

The Archbishop of Canterbury threw her support behind the pope.

The pope's visit was part of an 11-day African tour.