Pope Leo Xiv Draws Huge Crowds in Cameroon as Peace Message Dominates Visit
More than 120, 000 people joined pope leo xiv for an open-air Mass in Douala on Friday, making it the largest crowd so far on his 11-day Africa tour. The gathering came after his visit to Cameroon’s Anglophone region the previous day, where he again stressed peace in a country marked by a decade-long rebellion. The pope also used the trip to warn about artificial intelligence and what he described as its role in spreading division.
Massive turnout in Douala
Jubilant crowds filled Japoma Stadium as pope leo xiv arrived in the economic city of Douala, with many people waiting for hours and some camping outside overnight to secure a better place for his address. Witnesses described worshippers of all ages braving the heat, raising umbrellas and books above their heads while they waited for the service to begin. The open-air Mass became the most heavily attended moment of the visit so far, underscoring the scale of public attention surrounding the papal tour.
During the service, pope leo xiv focused on spiritual themes and urged young people to develop their talents while serving their communities. He warned against violence and abuse, saying they promise easy gains but harden the heart. He also told worshippers not to be corrupted by temptations that waste energy and do not serve social progress.
Dialogue with Muslim leaders
The visit also brought pope leo xiv into direct contact with Cameroonian Muslim leaders in Yaoundé on Thursday evening. Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, said the meeting took place at the Apostolic Nunciature after the pope returned by plane from Bamenda. Bruni said the pope greeted each of the 12 representatives individually and listened to their words of welcome and thanks.
The Muslim leaders, Bruni said, spoke about projects aimed at social justice and cooperation to support the poorest members of Cameroon’s population, in collaboration with the local Catholic Church. They also expressed appreciation for the pope’s visit and for his words on dialogue and peace. pope leo xiv, in turn, thanked them for the welcome he has received from Christians, Catholics and non-Catholics, Muslims, and people of traditional religions.
Peace message amid division
At the heart of the Cameroon trip is a repeated appeal for peace in a country facing deep strain. After visiting the Anglophone region hit by a decade-long rebellion, pope leo xiv said divisions can creep into relations between faiths and religions and called on Cameroonians to embrace the responsibility that comes from encounter. He encouraged them to communicate a desire for peace that respects differences and recognizes shared dignity.
He also warned at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé that artificial intelligence can transform the relationship with truth and push people into “bubbles” that weaken dialogue. In that address, pope leo xiv said that when people feel threatened by those who are different, polarisation, conflict, fear and violence spread. The warning linked the Cameroon visit to a wider message about social trust, human contact, and the risks of isolation.
The next phase of the trip will be watched closely for how pope leo xiv continues to balance public worship, interfaith contact, and his calls for peace. With the crowd in Douala still fresh in memory and his meetings in Yaoundé drawing attention, pope leo xiv remains at the center of a visit that is unfolding as both a religious event and a message to a divided country.
