A few days ahead of the arrival of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in Cameroon, the government says all is set for a successful Apostolic Visit.
During his maiden trip to Africa as head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Cameroon from April 15 to 18, with stops in Bamenda, Douala and Yaounde.
Speaking at a press conference in Yaounde on Wednesday, April 8, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, assured that all preparations have been finalized, with the nation now eagerly awaiting the Supreme Pontiff.
“I can assure you that all is ready to ensure that this Apostolic Visit of Pope Leo XIV takes place under optimal conditions, guaranteeing every success,” the government spokesperson said.
“All necessary arrangements have been made, under the esteemed auspices of President Paul Biya, to provide an exceptional welcome to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and to ensure every success to his Apostolic Visit to Cameroon,” he added.
The minister said Cameroonians are eagerly awaiting the Pope’s arrival, which will be marked by an exceptional welcome reflecting the joy and enthusiasm of the population.
He also used the press conference to highlight the long-standing ties between Cameroon and the Vatican, describing the relationship as both fruitful and mutually beneficial, with decades of collaboration across social and development sectors since being formally established in 1966.
According to him, the partnership between the State and the Roman Catholic Church has significantly contributed to education, healthcare, and peacebuilding efforts in the country, with institutions run by the Church playing a critical role in providing social services, particularly in underserved communities, complementing government efforts.
“The Catholic Church remains to this day the leading private partner of the State of Cameroon in the social sector…In the field of education, the Catholic Church operates an extensive network of high-quality institutions nationwide, some of which trained our earliest political and administrative elite,” said Communication Minister Rene Sadi.
He added that this cooperation has also been instrumental in promoting dialogue, national cohesion and moral values, noting that the Holy Father’s visit is expected to further strengthen diplomatic and spiritual ties between Cameroon and the Holy See, while opening new avenues for collaboration in youth empowerment, conflict resolution, and humanitarian action.
Pope Leo XIV will become the third pontiff to visit Cameroon, following Pope John Paul II (1985 and 1995) and Pope Benedict XVI (2009)—all during the presidency of Paul Biya.
“We should all be glad about this because, in the history of the Vatican, few countries have hosted papal visits within such a time span,” Rene Sadi said.
Besides Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV is also scheduled to visit Algeria, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
