“In a world wounded by arrogance, people are hungry and thirsty for justice. We must value those who believe in peace and dare to implement policies that go against the tide, focused on the common good,” he said during a speech.

The pope also emphasised dialogue, human rights and support for vulnerable groups, urging leaders to turn past divisions into opportunities for renewal. He highlighted the importance of investing in young people, describing it as a “strategic choice for peace” and long-term stability.

President Biya welcomed the visit, saying it came at a time of global uncertainty and conflict, and praised the pope’s message of peace . Leo XIV is on his first apostolic trip to Africa, which includes stops in Algeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, with his Cameroon visit running from April 15 to 18.

The trip comes at a time when Africa’s role in global Catholicism is expanding, driven by a young and rapidly growing population . Devout Catholic Ngong Aloysius Kfutua said the continent’s demographic strength is reshaping the Church’s future.

“The population of Africa is young. It’s a growing population, while in Europe it is aging,” he said, adding that the increase is reflected in rising church membership.

Kfutua also pointed to reforms such as the 1995 Ecclesia in Africa, which encouraged worship in local languages and the use of indigenous instruments, making the faith more accessible across the continent.

“The faith of Africans is well-tuned. Africans believe so much in God,” he said, noting that the number of priests ordained in Africa continues to outpace Europe.

Church leaders say the visit carries both spiritual and symbolic significance. James Ndifon, Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, described it as an opportunity to strengthen unity and reaffirm the country’s place within a fast-growing African Church.

“In many ways, the visit of the Holy Father is going to touch Cameroon in a very precise way because Cameroon is a country in need,” he said. “He’s coming to teach us, to sanctify us and to lead us to God.”

Particular attention is expected to focus on Cameroon’s conflict-affected English-speaking regions, where unrest has persisted since 2016. The Pope is scheduled to visit Bamenda, where he will meet community leaders and celebrate Mass as part of a peace-focused programme.

“He will come to console them, to give them hope and to engage all parties, including civil society and the state,” Ndifon said.

Ahead of the visit, Ambazonian separatist groups have reportedly announced a three-day ceasefire in the northwest and southwest regions, a rare pause in a conflict that has caused widespread displacement and humanitarian challenges.

The pope also invited Catholics to join him for a prayer vigil for peace at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, April 11, saying the current moment required prayer as delicate diplomatic efforts continued. He has repeatedly urged world leaders to choose negotiation over war in recent weeks.

His remarks came after Washington and Tehran announced a provisional two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, under which Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and both sides were expected to continue talks in Islamabad. President Donald Trump said he had suspended threatened attacks on Iran as part of the deal.

The truce has been welcomed internationally as a chance to step back from a wider regional war, though its durability remains uncertain amid fresh tensions involving Lebanon and shipping through Hormuz. Global markets initially rallied on the news , while diplomats cautioned that only sustained negotiations could turn the pause into a lasting settlement.

"In the light of Easter, let us allow ourselves to be amazed by Christ! Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!" he said.

Leo also warned against what he described as a growing desensitisation to violence, lamenting a world becoming indifferent to the deaths of thousands and the wider consequences of conflict.

"On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil," the pontiff, who hails from Chicago in the United States , said.

Popes have long been viewed as a moral compass in times of crisis, and Leo’s Easter message appeared to continue that tradition — while also reflecting the unique position of the papacy as both a spiritual authority and a head of state.

Although the pontiff did not name specific leaders in his Easter address, his remarks come against the backdrop of escalating global tensions and ongoing conflicts .

Just days earlier, however, Leo had been more direct.

Speaking to journalists, he referenced remarks by Donald Trump, saying he hoped the US leader was seeking an “off-ramp” to reduce violence and halt the cycle of hatred, particularly in conflict zones such as the Middle East.

He also called on leaders to return to dialogue and reduce the level of violence , stressing that peace — especially during Easter — should prevail.

As conflicts persist across multiple regions, Leo’s call for restraint, dialogue and peace positions the Vatican once again at the centre of global appeals for an end to violence.

Pope Leo XIV’s first international trip took him to Turkey, where he met President Erdoğan and held key religious and diplomatic meetings. The visit highlighted shared calls for peace amid global crises and underscored Türkiye’s historic role as a bridge between cultures. The Pope also visited İznik, reflecting the country’s deep Christian heritage and recent steps toward greater religious pluralism.

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