Pope Leo XIV has celebrated the largest Mass of his African tour so far, drawing a crowd of more than 100,000 worshippers in Douala, Cameroon.
The gathering, estimated by local authorities at around 120,000 people, filled the car park of Japoma Stadium, where jubilant attendees welcomed the American pontiff with singing, dancing, banners, and Vatican flags. Many had arrived hours earlier to secure a place at the lively service, which featured music from a local choir.
The visit forms part of the pope’s 10-day trip across Africa and has brought renewed attention to the challenges facing Cameroon, where about 37.7 million people live in poverty amid ongoing internal conflict.
“Having him here, I feel like I’m being blessed,” said Fola Norn, a young attendee. “We are jobless here. We study and we don’t have jobs to do.”
During his homily, Leo acknowledged the country’s struggles.
“Despite the richness of the land in Cameroon, many experience both material and spiritual poverty,” the pope said. “Do not forget that your people are even richer than this land, for your treasure lies in your values: faith, family, hospitality and work.”
He urged the faithful to “reject every form of abuse or violence,” cautioning them against being “corrupted by temptations that waste your energies and do not serve the progress of society.”
The massive turnout highlights the continued rise of Catholicism in Africa, where the continent now accounts for roughly 20% of the global Catholic population.
In Cameroon, Catholics make up about 30% of the population, with the Church playing a key role in education, healthcare, and civil society—especially in underserved areas.
Leo’s stop in Douala followed a visit to Bamenda, a flashpoint in the country’s Anglophone crisis, where English-speaking separatists have clashed with the Francophone-led government for years.
There, he participated in a peace meeting.
The pontiff has also faced criticism from Donald Trump over his stance on the war in Iran. However, Leo has maintained that he is undeterred and will continue to speak out.
On Thursday, he said the world was being “ravaged by a few tyrants” and condemned those who turn “a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found.”
The pope is scheduled to travel to Angola on Saturday, marking the third stop of what is his longest trip to Africa since becoming pontiff.
