Pope Leo XIV took a firm stance criticizing world leaders who allocate massive budgets to wars, stating that the world is being destroyed by “a few tyrants” during his official visit to Cameroon. . (This part is a single character 'ร' likely a typographical or incomplete fragment; no meaningful translation.)
On 17 April 2026, Pope Leo XIV, head of the Roman Catholic Church, delivered a strong address during his visit to Bamenda, in northwest Cameroon, a region that has faced nearly a decade of ongoing violence from insurgency.
He criticized leaders who “turn a blind eye to the truth,” stating that billions of dollars are spent on killing and destruction, while budgets for healing, education, and rebuilding are scarce. He also said, “War lords act as if they do not realize that destruction takes only a moment, but rebuilding sometimes takes a lifetime and still is not enough.”
Moreover, he condemned the exploitation of natural resources in the region, noting that those who plunder others’ resources often use the profits to buy weapons, perpetuating a cycle of insecurity and death. Cameroon has endured violent conflict from local rebel groups for many years, resulting in at least 6,000 deaths and large numbers of displaced people.
This stance came just days after a dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump, who attacked the Pope via Truth Social following the Pope’s calls for peace and criticism of U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran. Trump had warned that “all civilization will be destroyed tonight” if Iran did not comply with U.S. demands to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. Despite political pressure, the Pope affirmed from the start of his African visit that he did not wish to engage in conflict with Trump but would continue to promote a message of peace.
Source: BBC