“God’s peace be upon this land”: Pope Leo XIV releases dove to Bamenda's skies

🇨🇲 2026 Papal Visit to Cameroon | Special Coverage by Hilltopvoices

A fragile calm settled over Bamenda on Thursday 16 April as Pope Leo XIV released a white dove into the sky, declaring, “God’s peace will be upon all of us… and keep us all united in his peace,” in a moment that captured both the anguish and hope of a region scarred by conflict.

Pope Leo XIV about to release dove

The symbolic act followed a solemn peace encounter at the St. Joseph’s Metropolitan Cathedral, where the Pontiff met religious leaders, traditional authorities and victims of violence from the North West and South West regions. Their testimonies, marked by grief and endurance, framed a day that moved between raw pain and cautious expectation.

“Today, the Lord has chosen all of us to be the workers who bring peace to this land,” the Pope said, urging collective responsibility as the dove rose above the city. 

The visit marks the first papal presence in Bamenda in more than four decades, following the historic trip of Pope John Paul II in 1985. 

Catholic Women Association members at the airport

Arriving earlier in the day, Pope Leo XIV entered a region still grappling with the effects of a protracted crisis that has claimed lives, displaced families and disrupted social order.

Inside the cathedral, voices across faith lines converged in a rare display of unity. Christian and Muslim leaders alike recounted shared suffering while calling for justice, reconciliation and an end to violence. The Pope, responding, pointed to this interreligious solidarity as a powerful witness in a divided world.

Following the dove release, the Pontiff withdrew briefly to the Archbishop’s residence, closing a reflective phase of the visit before the next public engagement.

Attention has since shifted to Bamenda International Airport, where thousands of faithful are gathering for an open-air Mass dedicated to peace and justice. The celebration is expected to draw one of the largest crowds in the region in recent years, turning the day’s message into a collective act of prayer.

Bamenda airport getting ready for Mass

The Bamenda stop forms part of the Pope’s first Apostolic journey to Africa since his election in May 2025. The ten-day tour, running from April 13 to 23, covers Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, with a focus on dialogue, fraternity and peace.

From his earlier emphasis on interfaith dialogue in Algeria to his direct engagement with communities affected by violence in Cameroon, the Pope’s itinerary has consistently centred on reconciliation. 

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By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web

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