Pope Leo denounces “tyrants” as he brings peace message to Cameroon conflict zone

Pope Leo XIV has delivered one of his sharpest critiques of global conflict yet, using a visit to Cameroon’s separatist-hit northwest to call out those he says are driving war and exploitation.

The remarks came on Thursday in Bamenda, a city at the heart of a long-running conflict that has drawn little sustained international attention. The pope’s arrival turned into a rare moment of visibility for the region, with large crowds gathering to welcome him, lining roads, sounding horns and dancing.

Leo’s visit is part of a broader African tour, but the stop in Bamenda carried particular weight. He led a peace meeting bringing together religious leaders from different faiths — a traditional chief, a Presbyterian moderator, an imam and a Catholic nun — highlighting an interfaith effort to contain the violence and support affected communities.

Speaking at St Joseph Cathedral, Leo returned to a theme that has defined much of his recent messaging: the misuse of religion in conflict.

“Blessed are the peacemakers!” he said. “But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”

His comments align with broader concerns he has raised in recent weeks, including criticism of religious framing in the US-Israel war on Iran.

The pope also widened the lens beyond Cameroon, linking local violence to global patterns of power and exploitation.

“The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters!”

He called for a “decisive change of course”, urging leaders to move away from conflict and from economic and military practices that exploit both land and people.

The timing of the speech is notable. It comes just days after US President Donald Trump renewed public criticism of the pope, adding another layer of tension between the Vatican and Washington.

On the ground, however, the focus remained local. Bamenda lies in one of Cameroon’s two Anglophone regions, where a separatist insurgency has been ongoing since 2017. Rooted in colonial-era divisions between French- and English-speaking areas, the conflict has left more than 6,000 people dead and displaced over 600,000, according to international estimates.

Leo is expected to hold a mass in the city before returning to the capital, Yaounde. It remains unclear whether any separatist fighters — who have announced a temporary pause in hostilities during his visit — will take part.