Imagine being on board the plane that connects Algeria with Yaoundé, the vibrant capital of Cameroon. A five-hour flight that, from the moment of takeoff, becomes something special. Pope Leo XIV passes by the press box just to say hello. There are no questions, but his words are enough to capture the emotion of the moment: he is “very, very happy” with the two days he has just spent in Algeria.

The Pope thanked the authorities and all those who made the visit possible. But above all, he emphasized what impressed him most: walking once again in the footsteps of  Saint Augustine  in Annaba. “After 1600 years, his teachings remain very relevant,” he affirmed. He spoke of the tireless search for God and truth, of the call to build community, to walk toward unity while respecting everyone. For Leo XIV, Augustine is not a saint of the past: he is a voice that the world today urgently needs.

And he continues to build bridges. He recalls with satisfaction his visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers. “Even though Christians and Muslims have different faiths and live them differently, they can live together, they can coexist.” This is the message he has repeated since the beginning of his pontificate, and now, in Africa, it resonates even more strongly: the world needs examples of peace, unity, and bridges. “On this trip to Africa, I will continue doing all of this,” he promises.

The plane touches down in Yaoundé. The reception is radically different from the one experienced in Algeria: color, joy, overflowing enthusiasm in the streets. The “African color” appears in all its intensity. The first official act: a meeting with President Paul Biya, 93 years old and in power since 1982. A leader who already received John Paul II in 1985 and Benedict XVI in 2009. Now it is Leo XIV’s turn.

Cameroon is a complex country: divided between Francophone and Anglophone areas, with tensions that have resulted in casualties and displacement since 2017. Tomorrow, the Pope will travel through one of the most sensitive areas in the northeast. Furthermore, protests over the election results continue. In this context, the Pope’s address at the Presidential Palace—a magnificent venue—sounds powerful and direct.

Leo XIV speaks of  unarmed peace , denounces corruption, defends the rule of law, and reminds us that a true government must be at the service of the people, know how to listen, and act with rigor but also with magnanimity. “Security is important, but it must respect human rights, especially those of the most vulnerable,” he emphasizes.

His style is reminiscent of John Paul II’s visits to countries with difficult regimes: clear, courageous, and direct. Neither the characteristic gentleness of Benedict XVI nor the prudence of Francis in certain contexts. Here, before the president, the government, civil society, and the diplomatic corps, the Pope’s words are understood without filters: to govern is to serve, not to dominate.

Special mention must be made of the women. The Pope denounces the fact that they are often victims of prejudice and violence, and calls for them to have a real role in the decisions that affect the country. In the hall, the women present applaud twice. The gesture does not go unnoticed.

Cameroon has a significant Catholic community—comprising nearly 30% of the population—and the Pope wishes to pay tribute to them during these days. It is hoped that his voice will continue to resonate with the same clarity in the coming days: words of peace, justice, and hope in a nation that, despite its divisions, possesses all the human, cultural, and spiritual resources necessary to build a better future.

The journey has barely begun, but the tone is already clear: Leo XIV is not coming merely to bestow his blessing. He is coming to remind us that, as Saint Augustine said, the search for God and truth unites us, and that building bridges is not an option, but an urgent necessity.

We will continue to report on it step by step. Because in Africa, as throughout the world, the Pope continues to invite everyone to walk together.

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