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Pope Leo XIV´s apostolic journey across Africa continues (Cameroon).
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00:17and we are going live right now to Cameroon on the second day of Pope Leo 14th visit to this
00:24country as part of his apostolic journey to the African continent this is the second stop of
00:29this apostolic visit which began in Algeria last Monday the 13th the Pope who arrived in Cameroon
00:37yesterday was received by Prime Minister Joseph Dionne Guter then as part of his pastoral visit
00:43to Africa Pope Leo 14th arrived at the presidential palace in Cameroon where he met with President Paul
00:50Villa before addressing the authorities civil society and diplomatic corps of the country then
00:56the high pontiff visited the Engus Samba orphanage where he greeted the residents and staff for his
01:03last appointment of the day Paul Leo 14th met privately with the Cameroonian bishops at the headquarters of
01:10the episcopal conference it is important to mention that Cameroon has experienced days of intense
01:16preparation for the visit of Paul Leo 14th in the streets parishes and communities the atmosphere
01:22reflected a mix of enthusiasm anticipation and deep prayer Cameroon presents a different ecclesial
01:30landscape the Catholic Church in Cameroon is demographically significant institutionally entrenched
01:36socially influential and politically attentive for his second day in Cameroon Paul Leo is already
01:44holding a meeting for peace in Bamenda these are the images that we are seeing now at the Saint
01:50Joseph Cathedral this event aims to address regional violence and promote dialogue and reconciliation in
01:56the area in Bamenda here in particular the city has been living through a crisis for more than a decade
02:03marked by separatist tensions violence and displacement where many people have lost their life it is expected
02:10that the Pope's visit will be an opportunity to speak about peace and unity reconciliation is shaping up to
02:18be one of the central themes of the Pope's journey let us remember that Cameroon is divided between
02:25eight french-speaking regions and two english-speaking ones carrying historical tensions that intensified
02:32around 2015. In this context the Pope's arrival is a great source of comfort for everyone welcomed with
02:40open arms by those who say they are ready to nurture the seed of hope that the pontiff will
02:46leave behind so that it may grow everyone feels called to be protagonists of renewal and they say that
02:53this is the perfect moment strongly encouraged by the three-day truce announced by the separatists
03:00a gesture inspired by the profound spiritual significance of the Pope's visit and by the need to safeguard the
03:07life of civilians who will travel to take part in the long-awaited moment a peace gathering at Saint Joseph's
03:14cathedral with the entire community made up of different religions french-speaking and english-speaking groups
03:20this visit to Bamenda is expected in the view of many to mark the beginning of a new era because
03:27it will be a table of
03:28encounter where people can look each other in the eyes and say together that it's time to overcome barriers for
03:36a truly united and peaceful
03:38Cameroon the post presence it is hoped will be a precursor to all of this no one expected him to
03:46come to Bamenda and now this visit is seen as a sign that it is God himself who is visiting
03:52us these are the words of
03:55some of the people there is also hope that this will be a new beginning in overcoming poverty and the
04:01dramatic
04:02humanitarian crisis affecting the region also let's remember that yesterday in his first address in
04:08Cameroon before authorities representative of civil society and the diplomatic corps Paul Leo 15th recalled
04:15the challenges that still affect the country and made a renewed call for peace in the sense at the
04:21beginning of his address in the reception hall of the unity palace the holy father expressed his gratitude
04:27for the warm welcome he received and noted that it is a joy to be in what he is known
04:33as Africa in
04:35miniature a name given to Cameroon because of the richness of his landscape cultures languages and
04:42traditions to the Cameroonian people the pontiff said that he came as a pastor and as a servant of dialogue
04:49fraternity and peace and that his visit expresses the affection of the successor of peter for all
04:56Cameroonians as well as the desire to encourage each person to continue with enthusiasm and
05:02perseverance in building the common good then recalling the business of his predecessors to
05:07Cameroon Paul Leo 14th noted that those moments marked the nation's history as demanding calls to
05:14a spirit of service unity and justice moreover quoting saint Augustine the pontiff emphasized the
05:21responsibility of a country's leaders who must be at the service of others with kindness the pope also
05:28highlighted with gratitude the role of women stating that is aware of the discrimination they suffered
05:35but that despite being victims of prejudice and violence they continue to be tireless builders of
05:41peace calling for them to be fully recognized and at this time we listen to some even some hymn that
05:48is
05:48being chanting at this moment as since joseph cathedra we listen in
05:55song.
05:55...
05:57...
05:58...
05:58...
06:07...
06:07...
06:10...
06:25as we can hear it is the hymn of saint francis to the cc make me an instrument of your
06:30peace
06:40where there is sadness only lies and where the sadness never draws
07:01make me a channel of your peace
07:06it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
07:14in giving to all men that we receive
07:20and in dying that we are born to eternal life
07:27who must not run so I may never see
07:34so much to be concerned as to concern
07:38so I want to be understood as to understand
07:47to be loved as to love with all my soul
08:02a wonderful hymn sung by the choir there present in the cathedral
08:05and that again was the prayer for peace
08:09from the traditional rulers of the northwest and southwest regions of Cameroon
08:13on the occasion of the maiden visit of his holiness
08:17Pablo XIV at the Metropolitan Cathedral Mancon Bamenda
08:23your holiness
08:25in the meeting the officials are set
08:26on behalf of the traditional rulers
08:29of the heritage and traditions of the north west and south west regions
08:34I wish to offer a cordial welcome to you in Mancon Bamenda Cameroon
08:41the traditional rulers have played a very important strategic role
08:47in the establishment of the royal Christianity in Cameroon
08:52especially west of the Mongol river
08:56with Catholicism
08:57when Catholicism came to Cameroon in 1890
09:01and in this part of the country
09:03with the missionaries arriving at Bonjongo
09:07in 1894
09:09they were welcomed by the traditional rulers of the time
09:15most of the lands on which the churches and schools were buried
09:19were donated by the traditional rulers
09:21and today we can proudly say that
09:24we too have been evangelizers
09:27and today we can proudly say that
09:30we too have been evangelizers by extension
09:33after the nice scenes of national reconciliation and peace
09:40particularly, I am glad that
09:44I am welcoming the court
09:46the Catholic Church in the world
09:49in Mancon land
09:55and this cathedral in which we are
09:58is buried on land that was given
10:00by my grandfather
10:01King de Fruidit III
10:03for the creation of the first parish year in 1935
10:12The people of Mancon wish to thank you for this great honour.
10:18We use this opportunity to thank the Pope for the great work of evangelisation
10:23and the social services the Catholic Church offers to our people.
10:28Some of the best schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and orphanages are run by the Catholic Church.
10:38We pray the Church continues to improve the lives of our people through these services.
10:45There are some traditional practices that were not compatible with Christian values
10:50and some of those have gradually disappeared with education.
10:57We thank you that during the Synod on Synodality...
11:08And we were seeing the images of St. Paul's St. Joffre's Cathedral
11:13where the Pope is scheduled to hold a meeting and this is what we were holding live images at this
11:22moment.
11:23When he arrived yesterday in Cameroon the Pope referred also to the young people
11:28calling to receive training and entrepreneurship, stating that it is the only way to stop the drain
11:34of wonderful and to reimburse their education, to stop the drain of wonderful talents
11:41to store to other regions of the world.
11:43It is also the path to combating the discourses of drugs, prostitution and apathy
11:49which devastates too many young lives in an increasingly dramatic way.
11:54The spirituality of young people, he says, is an energy that makes their dreams precious
12:00rooted in their prophecies that nourish their prayers and their hearts.
12:04Finally, the pontiff recalled the Catholic Church's commitment in Cameroon
12:09to education, health care and charitable causes.
12:12These are live images at this time in Cameroon where the Pope, Leo XIV,
12:18is holding a meeting for peace and he will expect to address some of the religious leaders' presence
12:28at Sam's Joseph's Cathedral where he is advocating for peace in this context of the important process
12:40that the country is living where separatists even in the context of this visit, of his visit to Bamenda
12:47where he is right now and where we are seeing live images or ordered a ceasefire,
12:56a halt to the hostilities in the context of this visit.
13:00It is important to highlight that Bamenda has been passing through a conflict the whole country of Cameroon
13:08through years, almost 10 years of divisions that started in 2016
13:15because of language divisions, there are English-speaking regions, French-speaking regions
13:22that are divided and they want to separate each other, there are tensions around there
13:27and the Pope's visit comes in the middle of these tensions and he is advocating for peace.
13:33We can see right now the crowd outside and the Pope right now that is heading to the front seat
13:45of the St. Joseph Cathedral where there is a welcome ceremony.
13:51We recently heard a song for peace in a choir that sang this song that even the Pope was singing,
14:06the Pope was singing and we see St. Joseph's Cathedral in Bamenda where this meeting for peace is being held.
14:13We see outside the people gathering outside this place in Bamenda where I was saying that there are tensions there
14:29for separatists that want to have their own government and there have been tensions since 2016
14:38between English-speaking and French-speaking. There are eight English-speaking regions in Bamenda
14:46and two French-speaking regions and there are tensions being held and the visit of the Pope is seen as
14:54an opportunity
14:55to achieve peace. I was saying that yesterday when he arrived at Cameroon, he met with the President
15:04and the Prime Minister of Cameroon and he made a tour with several leaders. He spoke with several leaders,
15:17always talking about peace. This is the main objective of peace, to bring peace to the region and also talk
15:27about
15:28the importance of recognizing women's struggle because he acknowledged that they normally are not recognized in the world
15:37and he made a call for women to be recognized. In this context, it is important to highlight that this
15:44is the first visit of Pope Leo to Africa
15:50in his first apostolic journey. This is the second stop of this apostolic visit which began in Algeria last Monday
15:58the 13th.
15:59The Pope who arrived in Cameroon yesterday was received by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, as I was saying.
16:07Then as part of his pastoral visit to Africa, Pope Leo 14th arrived at the Presidential Palace in Cameroon where
16:13he met with President Paul Villa
16:15before addressing the authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps of the country. Then the High Pontiff visited the Engus Samba
16:23orphanage
16:24where he greeted the residents and staff. For his last appointment of the day, Pope Leo met privately with the
16:32Cameroonian bishops
16:33at the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference. It is important to mention that Cameroon has experienced days of intense preparation
16:39for this visit of Leo 14th in the streets, parishes and communities. The atmosphere reflected a mix of enthusiasm,
16:49anticipation and deep prayer. Cameroon presents a different ecclesial landscape. The Catholic Church in Cameroon
16:55is demographically significant, institutionally entrenched, socially influential and politically attentive.
17:03For his second date in Cameroon, Pope Leo is holding at least a meeting for peace in Bamenda and the
17:11St. Joseph Cathedral.
17:13This event aims to address the regional violence and promote dialogue and reconciliation in the area.
17:20In Bamenda in particular, the city has been living through a crisis for more than a decade, marked by separatist
17:27tensions,
17:27violence and displacement where many people have lost their lives.
17:32It is expected that the Pope's visit will be an opportunity to speak about peace and unity. This is the
17:38main importance of this visit.
17:40Reconciliation is shaping up to be one of the central themes of the Pope's journey.
17:46Let us remember that Cameroon is divided between eight French-speaking regions and two English-speaking ones,
17:52carrying historic tensions that intensified around 2015.
17:56In this context, the Pope's arrival is a great source of comfort for everyone, welcomed with open arms by those
18:04who say
18:05they are ready to nurture the seed of hope that the pontiff will leave behind so that it may grow.
18:11Everyone feels called to be the protagonist of renewal and they say that this is the perfect moment, strongly encouraged
18:20by the three-day truce announced by the separatists, as I was reporting already.
18:26A gesture inspired by the profound spiritual significance of the papal visit and by the need to safeguard the life
18:32of civilians who will travel to take part in the long-awaited moment,
18:37the peace gathering at St. Joseph's Cathedral with the entire community made up of different religious, French-speaking and English
18:46-speaking groups.
18:47This is what we are seeing right now. This visit to Bamenda is expected in the view of many to
18:54mark the beginning of a new era,
18:57because it will be a table of encounter where people can look each other in the eyes and say together
19:03that it is time to overcome barriers for a truly united and peaceful Cameroon.
19:09The Pope's presence, it is hoped, will be as precursor to all of this. No one expected him to come
19:16to Bamenda.
19:16We listen right now to another song by the choir at St. Joseph's Cathedral at this moment.
19:23Here we are.
19:26Read an open mind
19:28For you, O Lord, to speak to us
19:37Make us understand your word
19:43And be present in the midst
19:57He sits by His Father's side
20:03And yet He leaves no one alone
20:09Through His words and Eucharist
20:16He is present in the peace
20:24Bring peace to your people
20:29Bring peace to your people
20:37Bring peace to your people
20:48Bring peace to your people
21:01And now we will hear the testimony of the Imam of the Central Mosque, Abu Ea, Mohammed Abu Kakar
21:18This Thursday, 16th of April, 2026
21:23Speech from the chief Imam of Raya
21:28On behalf of the Muslim community
21:30From Northwest and Southwest
21:33Your Holiness
21:36I pray to you in the name of Allah
21:40Who is most compassionate
21:43The most merciful
21:46The Islamic community
21:49Is happy with your presence here
21:51As a representative of God
21:54Who is the author of all that is good
21:58Who is the bringer of peace
22:01The lover of mankind
22:05On the 14th of November
22:082025
22:09Your Holiness
22:12Some armed men invaded the mosque of Sabga
22:17About 20 kilometers from Baminda
22:21During prayer session
22:24And killed three people
22:26Injuring nine others
22:31Again, on the 14th of January
22:34Again, on the 14th of January
22:342026
22:36Armed men targeted
22:39Cartier raiders
22:40From the Borno ethnic community
22:44And killed at least 15 people
22:52Including children
22:57The Islamic community
22:59Has suffered
23:01In many English-speaking towns
23:03And villages
23:06And there were Muslims
23:07There were Muslim victims
23:10In what has come to be
23:15Again, we apologize for the
23:21Connection
23:22But we did hear
23:24Just a bit
23:25Of the beginning
23:26Of the
23:27Chief Imam
23:28Mohamed
23:29Abu Bakar
23:30Of the Boya Central
23:31Mosque
23:34And he was talking about
23:36Some recent attacks
23:38That had happened
23:40In Baminda
23:41And the surrounding areas
23:44And here we have
23:45The rest of his audio
23:47Rocking our regions
23:50We thank God
23:52That
23:53This crisis
23:55Has not degenerated
23:56Into a religious war
23:58And we are still
24:00Trying to love
24:01One another
24:02Despite
24:03Our religions
24:06Holy Father
24:09Welcome
24:09And please
24:11Help us
24:13To have peace again
24:26We were hearing
24:28One of the chiefs
24:29Of Baminda
24:30Talking about
24:31A problem
24:32With that
24:35They had recently
24:36In the region
24:38With
24:41Attacks
24:42And he was calling
24:45Also for peace
24:46These are live images
24:48At this time
24:48At Baminda
24:49Where
24:50The
24:51Pope
24:53Is visiting
24:55Carrying
24:56A message of peace
24:58And hope
24:58And reconciliation
24:59After the
25:01Ten years
25:02That have been
25:04In tensions
25:05There
25:07In the
25:08In the region
25:11This is
25:12An important
25:13Visit
25:14For the region
25:17We're listening
25:18To some more
25:19Statements
25:20At this time
25:23This is a great
25:24Consolation
25:25For us
25:26Who have been
25:27Working
25:28Among the poor
25:29And destitute
25:30Of our communities
25:33We are involved
25:35Mostly
25:36In pastoral
25:37Work
25:38In the dioceses
25:39Hospital
25:41And education
25:43Apostolates
25:44Social works
25:47Psychosocial support
25:49To the traumatized
25:51And spiritual works
25:53In our communities
25:55Your presence
25:57Here
25:58Is a great
25:59Encouragement
26:00To us
26:01Who exercise
26:03Our apostolate
26:04In very trying
26:05Circumstances
26:10Since the start
26:11Of this crisis
26:12We do our work
26:14With a lot
26:15Of fear
26:16And great
26:17Insecurity
26:20On the 14th
26:21Of November
26:23While returning
26:24From Bamenda
26:25To Elakoku
26:27Where we teach
26:28In the primary
26:28School
26:30Sister Mediatrice
26:32And myself
26:33Were abducted
26:35By some
26:35Gunmen
26:36Around Babugo
26:39And carried
26:40Into the bush
26:41Where we were
26:42Held hostage
26:43For three days
26:44And three nights
26:47During those days
26:49And nights
26:50We neither slept
26:52Nor ate
26:54We were moved
26:55By motorbikes
26:56From place
26:57To place
26:59Sometimes
27:00At 1am
27:01To avoid
27:03Being located
27:05We went
27:06On hunger strike
27:08And explained
27:09To our captors
27:10That we were
27:11Just doing
27:12Our work
27:12For the poor
27:13People
27:15They demanded
27:16Us to give
27:17Telephone numbers
27:18So that they
27:20Could collect
27:20Ransom
27:23It was a
27:24Difficult moment
27:25For us
27:26Because
27:27Besides
27:28Being ruffled
27:29Around
27:30We could
27:31Neither
27:31Bathe
27:32Drink water
27:34As we wanted
27:35Or even
27:36Had sleep
27:39What kept
27:40Our hope
27:40Alive
27:41Was the
27:42Rosary
27:42Which we
27:43Prayed
27:43Continuously
27:44For those
27:45Days
27:49We were
27:50Released
27:51After three
27:52Days
27:52Following
27:53Some
27:54Negotiations
27:55And we
27:55Were seeing
27:55Live images
27:56Of the
27:57St. Joseph
27:58Cathedral
27:59In Bamenda
28:00Cameroon
28:01Where the
28:01Pope is
28:02Being welcomed
28:03And he
28:03Will
28:04Carry
28:05A
28:05Message of
28:06Peace
28:07For the
28:08Region
28:09We will
28:09Keep you
28:10Inform
28:10About this
28:11And many
28:11More
28:11In a
28:12Coming
28:12News
28:12Briefest
28:13Stay tuned
28:13With
28:13Telesur
28:14Inglis
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