By Ngunyi Sonita Nwohtazie
The city of Bamenda was transformed into a sacred gathering ground on Thursday, April 16, as Pope Leo XIV presided over a solemn and historic Eucharistic celebration at Bamenda International Airport, an encounter widely regarded as both spiritually momentous and socially significant.
Clad in a richly adorned chasuble inspired by the traditional Toghu fabric, the Holy Father visibly embraced Cameroon’s cultural heritage, weaving local identity into the universal life of the Church. The vestment stood not merely as liturgical attire, but as a profound symbol of enculturation, an affirmation that the Gospel finds a home within every people and culture.
Before a vast and prayerful congregation, the Pontiff delivered a deeply pastoral and grace-filled homily, marked by both tender consolation and prophetic urgency. With the compassion of a shepherd attentive to the suffering of his flock, he warned against the quiet temptation of despair in the face of prolonged crisis. He observed that persistent hardship, if endured without hope, can erode the human spirit and normalise suffering.
In place of resignation, the Successor of Peter called for a renewal of moral courage and an awakening of conscience anchored firmly in faith, responsibility, and active Christian witness. His message resonated as a clarion call to rekindle hope and to stand steadfast in truth, justice, and charity.
Drawing richly from Sacred Scripture, the Holy Father invoked the steadfast witness of the apostles, proclaiming: “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” He clarified that this was not an appeal to political unrest, but a call to moral clarity, uprightness of conscience, and accountability in public life. In his vision, faith must illuminate leadership, and righteousness must guide society.
With apostolic conviction, he urged the faithful to become authentic “builders of peace and fraternity,” instruments of reconciliation in a land yearning for healing. He emphasised that obedience to God is not a burden, but a path to true freedom, one that restores dignity and leads to lasting peace.
The Pope also addressed the integrity of Christian belief, cautioning against the dilution of faith through the blending of the Gospel with practices he described as misleading or incompatible with true doctrine. He called for a purified, steadfast commitment to Christ and His teachings.
In a deeply moving and symbolic moment of interreligious solidarity, the Chief Imam of the Buea Central Mosque, El Hadj Mohammed Aboubakar, delivered an emotional and sobering address to the Holy Father at St. Joseph’s Metropolitan Cathedral.
Speaking on behalf of the Muslim community, the Imam offered a poignant testimony of the human cost of the ongoing crisis in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions. With visible emotion, he recounted harrowing incidents of violence that have struck places of worship, underscoring that even sacred spaces have not been spared.
He recalled, with grief, the tragic events of November 14, when armed assailants invaded a mosque during prayers, claiming the lives of three faithful. He further spoke of another brutal attack that left more than fourteen people dead, acts of violence that have plunged entire communities into mourning, fear, and uncertainty.
In a message that transcended religious boundaries, the Imam stressed that the suffering borne out of the crisis is shared by all, affecting both Muslims and Christians alike. His presence within a Catholic cathedral stood as a powerful testament to unity in the face of adversity, a reminder that the pain of one community is the pain of all.
In his concluding appeal, he called on the international community for support and solidarity, urging prayers and concrete action. He affirmed that every Cameroonian, regardless of faith or background, deserves the fundamental right to peace, protection, and a life free from fear.
The Eucharistic celebration, enriched by both liturgical solemnity and a profound spirit of unity, stood as a powerful witness to the Church’s mission of reconciliation. It reinforced the urgent call for peace not only as a spiritual ideal, but as a lived reality rooted in justice, dialogue, and mutual respect.
This landmark visit forms part of Pope Leo XIV’s first Apostolic Journey to Africa since his election in May 2025, spanning Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, a mission deeply rooted in the enduring values of dialogue, reconciliation, and peacebuilding.
In Bamenda, those values found a profound and living expression where voices of faith, across traditions, rose together in a united plea for peace, healing, and a renewed future for Cameroon.
