On Sunday, March 1, Cameroonians in Rome gathered in St Peter’s Square to witness Pope Leo XIV greet them from the Angelus window, a centuries-old symbol of his presence and spiritual leadership. Among them was Hid Excellency Andrew Fuanya Nkea, Archbishop of Bamenda and President of the National Episcopal Conference, who described the encounter as “a very big blessing for all of us.”
Archbishop Andrew Nkea said the Pope’s visit will have a profound impact on Cameroon.
“When the Holy Father comes to Cameroon or to any other country, the country can never, ever be the same. He brings a lot of blessings with him,” he said, framing the visit as a historic moment for a nation long weighed down by violence and political tension.
He reminded faithful that Cameroon is entering the Pope’s fourth Apostolic Visit, after two visits by John Paul II and one by Pope Benedict XVI.
“Now Pope Leo, on his first visit to Africa, is coming to Cameroon. We can only count our blessings and name them one by one,” he said.
Archbishop Andrew Nkea also explained his presence in Rome was twofold; to accompany the auxiliary bishop of Bamenda ahead of his Episcopal ordination on March 19 and to prepare for the Holy Father’s visit. He thanked the Cameroonian religious community in Rome for coming together to greet the Pope and express gratitude for the visit.
The Pope will travel to Yaoundé, Douala and Bamenda, with the latter city receiving particular focus as a region severely affected by separatist violence and extremist attacks. Archbishop Andrew Nkea cast the visit as a moment of hope and reconciliation, urging the faithful to anticipate a spiritual and national turning point.
“This is a big blessing for our country, and we are having a lot of hopes for this visit,” he said add that “Cameroon will not be the same after the Pope comes.”
By Asheri Loveline For Hilltopvoices Web
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