Pope Leo XIV Visits Cameroon Amid Ongoing Conflict

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday as part of his African tour, which follows a visit to Algeria. The 93-year-old pontiff is set to meet with Cameroonian President Paul Biya, the world's oldest head of state, during his four-day visit primarily to French-speaking regions.

The visit comes amid a decade-long conflict involving English-speaking separatists, which has resulted in approximately 6,000 deaths since protests began in 2016. The Pope's itinerary includes a high-security trip to Bamenda, the epicenter of the separatist insurgency, where he will advocate for peace among the 20,000 worshippers.

This visit is significant as it may help bolster Biya's image amid ongoing protests against his disputed re-election and violent suppression of dissent. The Pope's first international tour also included a mass in Algeria, attended by 18,000 pilgrims.

He is expected to hold a mass for hundreds of thousands in Douala before leaving Cameroon for Angola on Saturday.