Pope Leo XIV Condemns ‘Tyrants’ Fueling Global Conflict During Cameroon Visit

Pope Leo XIV condemns tyrants fueling global conflicts, urges peace and warns against exploiting religion for political and economic gain.

Pope Leo XIV delivered a forceful call for global peace on Thursday, condemning what he described as “a handful of tyrants” responsible for fueling conflicts and instability across the world.

Speaking during a visit to Cameroon as part of a broader four-nation African tour, the pontiff warned against the dangerous manipulation of religion to justify violence, particularly amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

Addressing a peace gathering at St Joseph Cathedral, Pope Leo praised interfaith efforts aimed at ending the long-running conflict in the country’s Anglophone regions. The meeting brought together a Mankon traditional leader, a Presbyterian moderator, an imam, and a Catholic nun, reflecting a unified front for peace.

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” he said. “But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain.”

He called for a “decisive change of course” away from violence and the exploitation of people and natural resources, warning that such practices were deepening global instability.

“The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters,” the pope added.

His remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing global tensions, including the conflict involving Iran, where religious narratives have increasingly been invoked in political rhetoric.

Responding to the pope’s comments, Donald Trump said he respected the pontiff’s right to express his views but maintained his own position on global security issues, particularly Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“I have no disagreement with the fact the pope can say what he wants, but I can disagree,” Trump told reporters, reiterating that the United States would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

During his visit, Pope Leo also highlighted the devastating impact of the separatist conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, which has persisted since 2017. Rooted in colonial-era divisions between French- and English-speaking territories, the crisis has left more than 6,000 people dead and displaced over 600,000, according to International Crisis Group.

The pope criticised the exploitation of natural resources as a driver of violence, noting that profits from resource extraction are often reinvested in weapons, perpetuating cycles of conflict.

“It is a world turned upside down,” he said. “An exploitation of God’s creation that must be denounced and rejected.”

Cameroon, rich in oil, natural gas, and valuable minerals, has long attracted foreign interests, with both Western and Asian companies active in its extractive industries.

Ahead of the pope’s arrival, separatist groups announced a temporary ceasefire to allow safe passage, a move seen as a rare gesture amid a conflict that has resisted multiple peace efforts.

Despite a recent decline in attacks, the crisis remains unresolved, with stalled negotiations and deep mistrust between the government and separatist factions continuing to hinder progress toward lasting peace.