Pope Leo XIV will make an apostolic visit to Cameroon from April 15 to 18, 2026, according to an official statement from the apostolic nunciature. This visit will mark the Pope's first African tour since taking office in 2025.
The pontiff will visit three key cities in the country: Yaoundé, the political capital; Bamenda, located in the English-speaking region facing a security crisis; and Douala, Cameroon's economic hub. The visit to Bamenda is of particular importance because of the conflict that has been raging in the English-speaking regions since 2016. Clashes between Cameroonian security forces and separatist groups have led to the displacement of more than 600,000 civilians, mostly Catholics, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Leo XIV will be the third Pope to visit Cameroon, after John Paul II, who visited in 1985 and 1995, and Benedict XVI in 2009. Cameroon is one of the first African countries to receive the new Pope since he took office. His African tour will also include visits to Algeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
Preparations to welcome the Pope began even before the official announcement of his visit. The Cameroonian authorities organized a security meeting ahead of the event, a sign of the importance given to the security of the sovereign pontiff.
If the visit to Cameroon is maintained, Pope Leo XIV will become the third Pope to visit this Central African country, after John Paul II and Benedict XVI, both welcomed by the same Cameroonian head of state.
