BAMENDA, Cameroon — Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea of Cameroon's Archdiocese of Bamenda has described the planned apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon next month as an unexpected moment of grace for the nation, saying the decision can only be understood in light of divine providence.
Speaking at a press conference on March 20 ahead of the Holy Father's April 15–18 visit, Nkea expressed gratitude for the opportunity to brief journalists and begin preparing the faithful for what he characterized as a significant pastoral moment for the Church in the Central African nation.
"I'm very happy that I have this chance to meet the press before the visit of the Holy Father… You will discover that this came to us as very good news that the Holy Father is going to come to Bamenda within the first year of his pontificate," the Cameroonian archbishop said.
The planned papal visit is set to bring Pope Leo XIV to Bamenda less than a year after the beginning of his pontificate.
Nkea recalled that the relationship between the Church in Cameroon and the newly elected pontiff began shortly after the pope's installation on May 18, 2025, when a delegation of six Cameroonian bishops traveled to Rome to participate in the ceremony.
"From that moment we have had a very cordial relationship with the new Holy Father," he said, adding that early speculation about a possible papal trip in mid-2025 remained unconfirmed until the Holy See formally announced the visit in March 2026.
Reflecting on the choice of Cameroon as a destination, the archbishop acknowledged that the decision surprised many within the local Church.
"Why the choice of Cameroon? … I will say to you that it is God. Nobody understands why the pope is coming to Cameroon," said Nkea, who also serves as president of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC).
He added that the news came as a surprise even to Church leaders in the country. "None of us expected it… And he has chosen Cameroon as one of the places he wants to come first."
Nkea explained that papal visits require formal invitations from both the Church and the state, revealing his personal involvement in the process.
"When I was going to attend the installation of the new pope, I carried two letters with me. The first was a letter of congratulations on his election and installation. The second letter I carried with me was a letter of invitation to the pope to come to Cameroon," Nkea said.
He added: "Later on, the Vatican services contacted our local Church and asked for an invitation from the state, because the pope cannot come here without the state. The pope is the head of the Catholic Church… at the same time, the pope is the head of Vatican State."
"You saw some of us hanging around the presidency sometimes. It was to negotiate for a better invitation. At the time we were doing this, it was under pontifical secret. So no matter what you commented about us on your media pages, we were not obliged to tell you why we were going there. And therefore, the state of Cameroon invited Pope Leo XIV to come to Cameroon," the archbishop said.
He added: "He is coming here as the spiritual leader of all Catholics. At the same time, he is coming as the head of state of the Vatican."
Reflecting on the theme of the visit, "May They All Be One," Nkea said it was chosen in response to national challenges.
"We chose this theme in the backdrop of the things that are happening within our country, in the backdrop of political disturbances, ethnic divisions, spread of hate speech, and the violence in some regions of our country," he said.
"This oneness has nothing to do with politics," he continued. "This oneness has to do with the human person, with the Church of Christ, and the creatures of God to love one another."
Nkea revealed that each stop on the pope's itinerary is expected to focus on a specific message. For Bamenda, a region affected by prolonged unrest, the them is: "My Peace I Leave You, My Peace I Give You."
For Douala, the focus will be on youth and unemployment with the theme "Give Them Yourselves Something to Eat… Don't Wait for Somebody Else to Give Them Something to Eat."
For Yaoundé: "Love and Truth Have Met, Justice and Peace Have Embraced."
Nkea also revealed that the NECC organized the various ecclesiastical provinces to give the Holy Father a befitting reception in the three towns he is expected to visit.
Reflecting on the program of the visit, the NECC president said that during his visit to Bamenda, the pope is to meet a diverse group at St. Joseph Cathedral in Mankon.
"He is going to meet traditional rulers, members of the civil society, elites of the Northwest region, members of the Islamic and Protestant communities, and a great section of the Catholic community," the archbishop said.
He added: "All these will form part of the group that the pope will meet in the cathedral."
The gathering will also include internally displaced persons and civil authorities, reflecting the inclusive nature of the visit.
Following the meeting, the pope will celebrate Mass at the Bamenda airport.
Nkea addressed concerns about access to events, firmly rejecting claims that passes are being sold. "The pass is free. There is no money transacted for passes," he emphasized.
He also pointed to visible infrastructural developments in preparation for the visit.
"The airport has been renovated, streets are being carved and fixed up, and everywhere is being renovated," Nkea observed.
Expressing confidence that the visit will have a profound impact, he added: "The Holy Father cannot go anywhere without impacting the community."
He went on to express hope that the pope's message — especially in Bamenda— will bring healing. "Some hearts that have been hardened for the past 10 years… this is going to impact and soften some hearts," he said.
The archbishop urged journalists to report responsibly and objectively.
"We encourage you all to report this visit in the most objective way that you can. The Church does not have any intention to politicize this visit. It is a pastoral visit. The pope, as the universal pastor… is coming out to visit his flock," Nkea said.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
