Yaoundé, CAMEROON — Pope Leo XIV concluded his apostolic visit to Cameroon on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with a final Holy Mass at Yaoundé-Ville Airport, where he called for the creation of structures of mutual aid to confront social and economic crises.
The Pontiff, who is currently on a ten-day Apostolic Journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, addressed thousands of faithful during a homily focused on overcoming fear through communal commitment.
Okay News reports that Pope Leo XIV emphasized the obligation of every community to sustain solidarity structures to ensure no individual is left to confront life’s adversities alone.
Reflecting on the Gospel account of Jesus walking on water, the Pope stated that faith does not separate the spiritual from the social. He argued that the isolated efforts of individuals are insufficient for the salvation of a community, calling instead for an integration of moral dimensions within local institutions to serve the common good.
The Pope specifically highlighted the challenges of poverty and justice, encouraging Cameroonians to confront these issues with a sense of civic responsibility. He noted that the preferential care for the poor remains a fundamental part of Christian identity and urged for a change in mindsets to overcome inequality and marginalization.
During his final words of gratitude, the Holy Father thanked the Civil Authorities and the Archbishop for their roles in organizing the visit, which began on April 13. He described the Church in Cameroon as energetic and magnificent in its harmony before preparing to depart for the next leg of his journey.
The Apostolic Journey is scheduled to conclude on April 23, 2026.
