Pope Leo strongly criticized leaders who allocate significant resources to wars while neglecting essential needs like healing and education, describing the world as plagued by a few tyrants. His remarks, made in Cameroon, came shortly after US President Donald Trump’s social media attacks on him.
During a meeting in Cameroon’s largest anglophone city, Leo, the first American pope, condemned the misuse of religious rhetoric to justify conflicts and called for a substantial shift in direction. He emphasized the destructive impact of war and the lack of focus on rebuilding and restoration efforts.
Trump’s recent criticisms of Pope Leo have caused concern in Africa, home to a significant portion of the global Catholic population. Leo, who initially maintained a low profile, has emerged as a vocal opponent of the US-Israeli-initiated war on Iran.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, stood in solidarity with the pope’s advocacy for peace during a speech in Bamenda. Leo also denounced leaders who exploit religious sentiments for personal gains, labeling it as a distortion of God’s intentions that must be rejected by all moral individuals.
Leo reiterated his stance against the Iran war, indirectly addressing US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s religious justifications for the conflict. Despite Trump’s repeated social media attacks, the pope refrained from engaging directly and affirmed his commitment to speaking out against the war.
During his visit to Cameroon, Leo urged the government to combat corruption and resist the influence of the wealthy elite. He criticized the exploitation of Africa’s resources by foreign entities, attributing it to the region’s poverty and underdevelopment.
The pope’s visit to Bamenda raised hopes for potential resolutions to the long-standing conflict in the region, rooted in Cameroon’s complex colonial history. The violence between government forces and anglophone separatists has resulted in thousands of casualties and displaced populations, with ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire and foster dialogue between conflicting parties.