Pope Leo XIV issued a passionate call for peace, reconciliation, and social justice from Bamenda, the heart of Cameroon's Anglophone area, devastated by years of war. During the meeting at St. Joseph's Cathedral, the second stop on his journey to the African country, the Pope referred to the poor as "the light of the world" in an international context marked by war, resource exploitation, and instability. Addressing the local community, which had been severely impacted by the struggle between Anglophone separatists and government forces, Leo XIV spoke of a "blood-stained but fruitful land", praising the people's tenacity and religious communities' dedication to fostering dialogue and peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers", he said, firmly condemning those who exploit religion for military, economic, or political ends. The Pope also condemned the role of "warlords" and those who exploit the territory's resources, fuelling a "spiral of destabilization and endless death", while funding for treatment, education, and reconstruction are insufficient. He gave special attention to women and religious workers assisting victims of violence. In his closing message, the Pope urged people to choose fraternity and sustainability, calling for a moral and political “U-turn” to build lasting peace. "Peace is not something to be invented: it is something to be welcomed", he stated, urging everyone to recognize themselves as members of a single human family. The Pope's visit to Bamenda, which was met with widespread public support and was accompanied by a truce called by the separatists, closed with a plea to continue the "silent revolution" of reconciliation that has so far kept the conflict from devolving into open war.