Emissaries from cameroon to the Holy See, with assignment to persuade the Pope to instruct Catholic clergy in Cameroon to refrain from speaking on matters of governance, political reform, and justice.
By The independentist Religious Affairs Desk
The Vatican Rome -12 August 2025. Recent reports indicate that the government of La République du Cameroun has sent emissaries to the Holy See, reportedly with the aim of persuading Pope Leo XIV to instruct Catholic clergy in Cameroon to refrain from speaking on matters of governance, political reform, and justice. This development occurs at a time when Catholic priests across La République du Cameroun — including in the occupied territories of Ambazonia — have increasingly used their pulpits to speak out on corruption, human rights abuses, and the moral imperative of change.
Ambazonia’s View on the Catholic Church’s Role
The Catholic Church is recognised worldwide as a moral authority whose voice has historically defended the oppressed — from the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe to struggles for human rights in Latin America and Africa. In Ambazonia, Catholic schools, hospitals, and parishes have served communities for over a century, often filling the gaps left by failing state institutions.
Any attempt to pressure the Vatican into silencing clergy who speak against injustice undermines not only the Church’s prophetic mission but also the universal principles of human dignity and the right to truth.
The Political Context
The timing of this mission to the Holy See is significant.
It comes as La République du Cameroun faces growing internal dissent and international criticism over governance failures.
It occurs while priests in Cameroon have increasingly “meant business” — in the words of observers — in challenging the regime’s moral legitimacy.
It coincides with an election season widely viewed as lacking credibility, in which meaningful participation by Ambazonians is impossible under the current climate of occupation and war.
The Church’s moral witness is seen as complementary to ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring international attention to the crisis and to pursue a just resolution.
The Vatican and the United States Connection
Pope Leo XIV, as the spiritual leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics, also has significant informal influence in Washington, D.C., home to a large Catholic population and to institutions deeply engaged with human rights worldwide. The Southern Cameroons Government in Exile is based in the United States, where freedom of religion and expression are protected values. The Vatican’s proximity to U.S. policy circles offers a strategic opportunity to highlight the plight of Ambazonia’s people.
Appeal to the Holy See
The following points are respectfully urged:
Resist political pressure from any government seeking to curtail the Church’s voice in matters of justice and human rights.
Encourage Catholic clergy in Cameroon and Ambazonia to continue to speak truthfully and courageously about the realities facing their communities.
Facilitate dialogue that recognises the distinct history, identity, and sovereignty of the people of the former British Southern Cameroons, in line with international law.
It is affirmed that in a free Ambazonia, the Catholic Church — and all faith traditions — will have the space to operate without political interference, in keeping with a commitment to religious freedom and moral responsibility in governance.
Conclusion
The attempt to silence the Catholic Church is part of a wider pattern: to remove moral witnesses from the public square so that injustice can continue unchecked. Ambazonia stands with those priests, nuns, and lay Catholics who risk much to defend the truth. This position is not simply political; it is rooted in shared moral principles that transcend borders.
As history has shown, the voice of the Church, when free, can be decisive in the struggle for justice. The hope is that Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican will ensure that this voice remains free in Cameroon — and that the cry for justice from Ambazonia will be heard.
Independentist Religious Affairs Desk
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