Cameroon bishop says Pope Leo’s visit could be a turning point for war-ravaged country

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – When Pope Leo stepped onto Cameroonian soil, the entire country seemed to come to a halt. In a rare display of unity, even separatist factions laid down their arms to welcome the Holy Father. But now that the Masses have been said and the Pope has departed, the difficult work of peacebuilding remains.

In an exclusive interview with Crux Now, Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo discusses the spiritual aftershocks of the papal visit. He underscores the urgent need to address the “historical truths” fueling the separatist crisis, and challenges both the government and the people to embrace a radical change of heart.

Following are excerpts of that interview….

Crux Now: The Holy Father’s visit was highly anticipated. Now that the liturgies and Masses have been celebrated and he has departed, what is your assessment of how everything unfolded?

Nkuo: The Holy Father’s visit was a unique moment, a great moment for us as Christians and for us as Cameroonians. For once, the whole country came to a standstill. You could see joy and happiness, and even a sense of longing for peace and justice among the people. And as he himself put it, the time for peace is now—not tomorrow. We felt a sense of belonging as a people, recognizing that this is somebody sent from God to speak a message of peace to us. It was a call for us to listen to him, to see what we can do to make this country a better place for each one of us.

I think this resonated across the whole spectrum of society. People felt it; even this morning when I went out, people said, “Oh, I’m not a Catholic, but I believe that the Spirit has touched me after the Holy Father spoke.” You get that sense that something is happening. I don’t think it’s just a vague feeling; I think it’s concrete. Consider that there were many other forces against the Holy Father’s visit. Yet he came, and his visit happened the way it did. I believe it was just God’s power and God’s presence looking down on Cameroon, touching Cameroon, and asking Cameroon to emerge as a better nation after this event.

Speaking to that sense of national unity, we noticed that separatists on the ground halted hostilities to permit the Holy Father’s visit. How do you interpret that?

Well, I think no one can resist the power of God for long. Somewhere along the line, I felt that God intervened. I am convinced that the separatists were touched by the Holy Father’s visit. It touched a cross-section of everyone: Separatists, those in government, and everyone in between, because the message is not restricted to one party. It is a universal call to a change of heart in this land.  I hope the separatists’ actions show that they are looking forward to change. To be honest with you, many of them are tired. Many of those living in the conflict zones are exhausted, and there are also many who don’t even know why they are there. Therefore, the fact that they could halt hostilities means they know it is possible to change and that this conflict can end.  I believe with the help of God, and with goodwill from both parties, Cameroon will be a different nation.

Cameroon has been grappling with this for the past 10 years. Did the Pope effectively address this conflict? Do you think a momentum for peace has been created?

When the Pope comes and speaks, he addresses a local community, but the Pope’s message goes beyond that. He also addresses conflicts around the world and the key protagonists involved. He does not need to point fingers at anybody; he expects that if the cap fits, you wear it.  So, I believe the Pope’s message was a humble call to us on the ground, but also to people in other continents. He specifically spoke about peace, but he also spoke about justice.

In your opinion, what would justice look like, especially for English-speaking Cameroonians?

We are talking about a peace that includes justice, but also truth — the historical truth. Why are the people so disgruntled? Why are they suffering? Why do they feel, in spite of everything, that there is some injustice — something that has gone wrong in our history that needs to be righted? It requires humility from us all to acknowledge, accept, and positively address this.

The landscape may not look the same as it did before, but we need to find a way for people to live together in harmony.

One of the core themes of the papacy is synodality walking together. Did the pope’s interaction with the clergy and the laity in Cameroon invigorate this kind of synodal process?

The pope engaged everyone from the hierarchy to the grassroots and was visibly impressed by their deep sense of belonging and collaboration. This confirms that synodality is alive in our Church. We remain close to our people, involving them in decision-making and celebration. The events demonstrated that this was not just a show by clergy or government, but a genuine expression of a God-fearing nation.

The Holy Father particularly and specifically challenged the leadership of the country. He talked about governance and corruption. Do you think he was too daring, or is it part of his spiritual calling?

The Holy Father is a moral authority for the whole world, and I dare say that he was very daring. I was there at the Unity Palace with a cross-section of Cameroonians — those who matter in this nation — and he dared to say the things he said there. It is a sign. Only someone who has moral courage and is not afraid would do that. He is not afraid because he is speaking the Gospel. He spoke the Gospel at the Unity Palace, and there was a message for all of us — big or small — to take home and do something about: Corruption, bad leadership — the time for change is now. The Pope was very clear about that. That was very bold and very courageous of him to say in those circumstances.

Did you read any reaction from Cameroon’s political leaders after the Pope spoke out against bad governance?

The message was overwhelming, calling everyone to examine their conscience regarding corruption and injustice. We have all contributed to our current state, but leaders have a greater duty. To whom much is given, much is expected; they must take radical action to establish justice and peace, and we must follow their lead.

Did the moral courage shown by the Holy Father challenge the clergy in Cameroon to also be able to speak truth to power? Do you feel you have been doing enough?

While some people want the Church to push their agendas, we consistently speak truth to power using the social doctrine of the Church. We outline the criteria for leadership and what God expects, but we do not name presidents or write constitutions—that is for the people. We clearly stated these standards before the [October 12,2025] elections. Accusations that we lack courage are merely a blame game by those who want us to say what pleases them.

So what should the way forward be? The Holy Father has challenged Cameroon as a nation to look for peace and justice. What should Cameroon do to attain those goals?

It is time for self-examination, beginning with those in authority. While change must start from the top, we fear that leaders’ selfishness may hinder the common good. Leaders must prove they love the country by reforming their habits and prioritizing the poor. Ordinary Cameroonians must also examine their consciences and acknowledge how we have all contributed to the current crisis. Both leaders and citizens must take action to restore the nation.

And what can the church do? What can be the participation, the contribution of the church?

One of the things the Church does is preach the Gospel. The Church is the Gospel because it is a call to conversion — a call to a change of heart. We will not cease preaching the Gospel to ourselves and to one another. The Gospel calls us to a change of heart: this is my brother, this is my sister, and this is how they should be treated. It teaches that the things of the earth that God has given — the beauty and riches of this land — should be shared in such a way that everyone has a share. Our land is so rich and so blessed that everyone should have an opportunity to share in the national cake, as they call it. The abuse, exploitation, selfishness, and greed that are so rampant in our land must cease.

You happen to be a shepherd who comes from an area that is so steeped in separatist violence. How have you been dealing with the situation in terms of trying to restore peace?

Kumbo is considered the epicenter of the crisis, yet peace is not impossible. Whenever I meet talk to people in Kumbo, I tell them that violence cannot solve our problems. The region has regressed decades due to this conflict. My humble appeal is for the people to calm down, prioritize the common good, and recognize they have gone too far. We must be sensible, love our land, and return home to rebuild.