ALGIERS – Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on a journey to Cameroon, bearing a message of reconciliation for its turbulent separatist region. He also plans to engage in discussions with President Paul Biya, the 93-year-old leader who recently secured an eighth term in office amid significant controversy surrounding the election process.

The Vatican has announced that the pontiff’s visit will highlight the need to combat corruption and advocate for ethical governance in this resource-rich nation. Pope Leo’s itinerary begins on Wednesday as he lands in Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital, following a prior visit to Algeria, marking the initial leg of his four-country African tour.

In line with Catholic social doctrine, the Vatican has expressed disapproval of the authoritarian leadership styles that Pope Leo will encounter on his inaugural visit to Africa as the first American to hold the papacy.

President Biya, noted as the globe’s most senior leader, has been at Cameroon’s helm since 1982.

Upon his arrival in Yaounde, Pope Leo is scheduled to meet Biya at the presidential palace. Following this, he will address government officials, civil servants, and diplomats. The day will also include a visit to a Catholic-run orphanage operated by a religious order of nuns.

The results of the October 12 election, which reaffirmed Biya’s leadership, have been hotly contested by Cameroon’s opposition. Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Biya’s main challenger, claims victory and urges the public to dismiss the official results.

Just this week, Leo issued an unrelated message on the correct role of political leaders and the need for “authentic democracy” to legitimize their authority and act as a “guardrail against the abuse of power.”

In a message to a Vatican academy for social science, Leo wrote that democracy remains healthy only when it is driven by morality and a vision of humanity that respects the dignity of everyone.

“Lacking this foundation, it risks becoming either a majoritarian tyranny or a mask for the dominance of economic and technological elites,” he warned in a message that wasn’t directed at any particular nation or leader and was dated April 1.

A peace meeting and a pause in fighting

Leo has two major events in Cameroon, with the highlight a “peace meeting” on Thursday in Cameroon’s north-west city of Bamenda, which has been plagued by separatist violence.

English-speaking separatists launched a rebellion in 2017 with the stated goal of breaking away from the French-speaking majority of Cameroon and establishing an independent English-speaking state. The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced over 600,000 others, according to the International Crisis Group, a think tank.

On the eve of Leo’s arrival, the English-speaking separatists announced a three-day pause in fighting to allow “safe travel” for Leo’s visit.

The Unity Alliance, which includes several separatist groups, said in a statement late Monday the pause reflects the “profound spiritual importance” of the visit and is intended to allow civilians, pilgrims and dignitaries to travel safely.

Leo’s other big event in Cameroon, where about 29% of the population is Catholic, is a Mass on Friday in the city of Douala, where some 600,000 people are expected to turn out.

On Saturday, Leo heads to Angola for the third leg of his trip, which ends next week in Equatorial Guinea.

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