Pope Leo XIV greeted by crowd of 120,000 in Cameroon as he attacks uneven distribution of wealth
April 17, 2026
Pope Leo XIV used a Mass attended by more than 100,000 people in Cameroon on Friday to openly criticize the uneven distribution of wealth.
Pope Leo XIV was greeted by an exuberant crowd of 120,000 people in Douala, Cameroon's economic capital, where he delivered a powerful critique of the unjust distribution of global and local wealth. Speaking during a Mass held in the parking area of Japoma Stadium, the pontiff addressed the paradox of widespread poverty in a land rich with resources. The visit to the vibrant port city marked a pivotal moment in his multi-nation African tour, shifting his focus from the peace and reconciliation themes he addressed earlier in the week to the stark realities of economic disparity. Thousands of joyful attendees lined the streets from the airport, cheering his motorcade in the sweltering heat, with many dancing to the beat of drums at the start of the liturgical celebration.
The stop in Cameroon is a central part of an 11-day apostolic journey across Africa, a trip designed to highlight the continent's growing importance to the global Catholic Church and to address its pressing challenges. Before arriving in Douala, the Pope held a highly emotional and significant meeting for peace in Bamenda, the heart of the country's conflict-ridden Anglophone region, where he condemned the violence that has traumatized the area for nearly a decade. This broader mission for peace has been a consistent thread of his pontificate, but his message in Douala aimed squarely at the economic structures that fuel social instability and suffering. The African tour, which began in Algeria and will continue to Angola, is seen by Vatican observers as an effort to turn the world's attention to the continent's complexities.
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV drew from the Gospel story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, using it as a powerful metaphor for the world's resources. He argued that there is enough for everyone if goods are shared with a giving hand rather than snatched by a greedy one. The Pope challenged the faithful, as well as those with social and political responsibility, to confront the hunger and deprivation in their midst. This message is deeply rooted in Catholic social teaching, which emphasizes distributive justice and has long taught that surplus wealth rightfully belongs to those who lack basic necessities. He framed the failure to share as an injustice, a theme he has stressed throughout the first year of his pontificate.
The Pope’s words carried particular weight in Cameroon, a nation rich in natural resources like oil, timber, and minerals, yet where nearly 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Economic growth has not translated into shared prosperity, and issues of corruption have long plagued the country, preventing its wealth from benefitting the wider population. While the pontiff met with President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982, his public remarks were an implicit challenge to the political and economic elite. The message resonated in a nation where inequality is stark and many young people see little opportunity, a reality that fuels both internal tensions and migration.
As Pope Leo XIV prepares to depart for Angola, where similar issues of resource management and poverty persist, his call to action in Cameroon continues to reverberate. He specifically implored the nation’s youth to resist despair and to become agents of change, working to build a more just and upright society from within. He charged them with becoming a "prophetic voice" for a new world, transforming their country by tackling corruption and working for the common good. The visit has not only provided a spiritual uplift but has also placed a global spotlight on the deep-seated economic challenges that must be addressed to secure a lasting and equitable peace in the region.
Source: nbcnews