Addressing a crowd of 20,000 at Bamenda Airport, Pope Leo XIV delivered what may be the most fervent reprimand of his young pontificate, denouncing the “masters of war” who spend billions on destruction while leaving the world’s most vulnerable without the resources for recovery.
“They close their eyes to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation,” Leo stated during the rally in Cameroon’s largest English-speaking city, “while the resources necessary for healing, education, and restoration are nowhere to be found.” He then added, “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain.”
The remarks, made without naming individuals, landed squarely in the midst of an escalating feud between Leo and Trump. President Trump has launched multiple attacks against the Pope on Truth Social since the start of Leo’s 11-day African tour, calling him “WEAK on crime, and terrible for foreign policy.” On Wednesday, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus.
Leo, who has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the US-Iran war, told reporters earlier in the week that he would not be silenced. “I continue to speak out firmly against war,” he stated on the plane to Algeria, “seeking to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateralism.”
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops weighed in on Wednesday, contradicting Vice President JD Vance’s claim that Pope Leo had distorted the Church’s tradition of “just war.” The bishops stated that Vance was in error: “A constant principle of this millennia-old tradition is that a nation may legitimately take up the sword only in its own defense, once all peaceful efforts have failed.”
Leo’s visit to Bamenda also carried local weight. The region has been gripped by a simmering conflict between government forces and English-speaking separatists since 2017, claiming over 6,500 lives. A separatist alliance declared a three-day ceasefire to coincide with the papal visit. Leo heard testimony from a nun who had been kidnapped and held hostage last November, and an imam whose mosque had been attacked by gunmen during prayers.
Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally expressed solidarity on Thursday, stating she stood with Leo in his “courageous call for a realm of peace.” The Pope is continuing his African tour, which also includes stops in Algeria, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.