Mr. President,
Distinguished Authorities and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I sincerely thank you for the warm welcome I have received and for the words of welcome addressed to me. It is a profound joy to be in Cameroon, often called “Africa in miniature” because of the richness of its territories, cultures, languages, and traditions. This diversity is not a weakness, but a treasure. It is a promise of fraternity and a solid foundation for building lasting peace
I come among you as a pastor and servant of dialogue, fraternity, and peace. My visit expresses the affection of the Successor of Peter for all Cameroonians, as well as the desire to encourage everyone to pursue, with enthusiasm and perseverance, the building of the common good. We are living in a time when resignation is spreading and a feeling of powerlessness tends to paralyze the renewal that people deeply feel. How much hunger and thirst for justice! How much thirst for participation, for visions, for courageous choices, and for peace! My great desire is to touch the heart of each person, especially that of young people, who are called to shape, including in the political sphere, a more just world. I also wish to express my commitment to strengthening the bonds of cooperation between the Holy See and the Republic of Cameroon, founded on mutual respect, the dignity of every human person, and religious freedom
Cameroon remembers the visits of my Predecessors, that of Saint John Paul II [two], messenger of hope for all the peoples of Africa, and that of Benedict XVI [sixteen], who emphasized the importance of reconciliation, justice, and peace, as well as the moral responsibility of those in power. I know that these moments have marked your national history, like demanding exhortations to a spirit of service, unity, and justice. We can therefore ask ourselves: Where do we stand? How has the Word that was proclaimed to us borne fruit? And what remains to be done?
1600 years ago, Saint Augustine wrote words that remain remarkably relevant today: “Those who command are at the service of those whom they appear to command. They do not command out of a thirst for domination, but out of a duty to provide for needs, not out of pride to impose themselves, but out of compassion to protect.” From this perspective, serving one’s country means dedicating oneself, with a clear mind and an upright conscience, to the common good of all people, the majority and the minorities, in their mutual harmony.
Today, like many other nations, your country is going through complicated trials. The tensions and violence that have struck certain regions of the Northwest, Southwest, and Far North have caused profound suffering: lives lost, families displaced, children deprived of schooling, young people who see no future. Behind the statistics are faces, stories, shattered hopes.
Faced with such dramatic situations, at the beginning of this year, I called on humanity to reject the logic of violence and war, to embrace a peace founded on love and justice. A disarmed peace, that is, one not based on fear, threats, or weapons; and disarming, because it is capable of resolving conflicts, opening hearts, and fostering trust, empathy, and hope. Peace cannot be reduced to a slogan: it must be embodied in a personal and institutional style that rejects all forms of violence. That is why I repeat it forcefully: “The world thirsts for peace.” Enough of wars, with their painful toll of death, destruction, and exile. This cry is intended as a call to action for a genuine peace, placing it above all partisan interests.
Peace, in fact, cannot be decreed; it must be welcomed and lived. It is a gift from God that develops through patient and collective work. It is everyone’s responsibility, first and foremost that of civil authorities. To govern is to love one’s country, but also neighboring countries. The commandment “love your neighbor as yourself” also applies to international relations! To govern is to truly listen to citizens, to value their intelligence and their capacity to contribute to developing lasting solutions to problems. Pope Francis emphasized the need to move beyond “this conception of social policies as a policy toward the poor, but never with the poor, never for the poor, and even less so as part of a project that unites peoples.”
In this shift in approach, civil society must be considered a vital force for national cohesion. Cameroon is also ready for this transition! Associations, women’s and youth organizations, trade unions, humanitarian NGOs, traditional and religious leaders: all play an irreplaceable role in building social peace. They are the first to intervene when tensions arise; they are the ones who accompany displaced persons, support victims, open spaces for dialogue, and encourage local mediation.
Their proximity to the ground allows them to understand the root causes of conflicts and to envision appropriate responses. Civil society also contributes to raising awareness, promoting a culture of dialogue, and respecting differences. It is therefore within civil society that a future less exposed to uncertainty is being prepared. I would like to gratefully acknowledge the role of women. Unfortunately, they are often the first victims of prejudice and violence; however, they remain tireless builders of peace Their commitment to education, mediation, and rebuilding the social fabric is unparalleled and acts as a deterrent to corruption and abuses of power. It is also for this reason that their voice must be fully recognized in decision-making processes.
Faced with such dedication to society, transparency in the management of public resources and respect for the rule of law are essential to restoring trust. It is time to dare to examine our consciences and take a courageous leap forward. May just and credible institutions become pillars of stability. Public authority is called to be a bridge, never a source of division, even where insecurity seems to reign. Security is a priority, but it must always be exercised with respect for human rights, combining rigor and compassion, with particular attention to the most vulnerable. Genuine peace is born when everyone feels protected, heard, and respected, when the law is a sure bulwark against the arbitrary power of the wealthiest and strongest
On closer examination, brothers and sisters, the high offices you hold demand a twofold witness. The first witness is embodied in the collaboration between the various organs and administrative levels of the State in service to the people, and in particular to the poorest; the second witness is realized by uniting your institutional and professional responsibilities with an upright life. For peace and justice to prevail, it is indeed necessary to break the chains of corruption that disfigure authority by emptying it of its credibility. It is necessary to free the heart from this thirst for gain which is idolatry. The real gain is integral human development, that is, the balanced growth of all aspects that make life on this earth a blessing
Cameroon has the human, cultural, and spiritual resources necessary to overcome trials and conflicts and move toward a future of stability and shared prosperity. The shared commitment to dialogue, justice, and integral development must transform the wounds of the past into sources of renewal.
As I said, young people represent the hope of the country and the Church. Their energy and creativity are invaluable assets. Of course, when unemployment and exclusion persist, frustration can breed violence. Investing in the education, training, and entrepreneurship of young people is therefore a strategic choice for peace. It is the only way to stem the hemorrhage of wonderful talent to other parts of the world. It is also the only way to combat the scourges of drugs, prostitution, and apathy that are devastating too many young lives, in ever more dramatic ways.
Thank God, young Cameroonians have a profound spirituality that still resists the homogenization of the market It is an energy that makes their dreams precious, rooted in the prophecies that nourish their prayers and their hearts. Religious traditions, when not distorted by the poison of fundamentalism, inspire prophets of peace, justice, forgiveness, and solidarity.
By fostering interreligious dialogue and involving religious leaders in mediation and reconciliation initiatives, politics and diplomacy can draw upon moral forces capable of easing tensions, preventing radicalization, and promoting a culture of mutual esteem and respect. The Catholic Church in Cameroon, through its educational, healthcare, and charitable works, wishes to continue serving all citizens without distinction. It desires to collaborate loyally with civil authorities and all the nation’s vital forces to promote human dignity and reconciliation. Where possible, it seeks to facilitate cooperation with other countries and strengthen ties between Cameroonians around the world and their communities of origin.
May God bless Cameroon, support its leaders, inspire civil society, enlighten the work of the Diplomatic Corps, and grant to all Cameroonian people, Christians and non-Christians, political leaders and citizens, the grace to welcome the Kingdom of God, building together a future of justice and peace
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