Pope Leo XIV has called on the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, to tackle graft and ensure peace in the country.

Speaking to Mr Biya and others gathered at the presidential palace in Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé, on Thursday, the Pope said chains of corruption strip leaders of their authority and credibility.

The Pope said, “In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption – which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility – must be broken.

He added, “The high offices you hold demand a twofold witness. The first is achieved through the collaboration of the various agencies and administrative levels of the state in the service of the people, and especially of the poor. The second is accomplished by carrying out your institutional and professional responsibilities with integrity and upright conduct.”

The cleric, who sued for peace  amid lingering Ambazonian War in Cameroon, lamented the devastation of war on the citizens.

 “Today, like many other nations, your country is facing complex difficulties. The tensions and violence that have afflicted certain regions of the Northwest, Southwest and Far North have caused profound suffering: lives have been lost, families displaced, children deprived of schooling and young people no longer see a future,” the Pontiff said. 

He added, “Behind the numbers are the faces, stories and shattered hopes of real people. In the face of such dramatic situations, I called on the human family at the beginning of this year to reject the logic of violence and war, and to embrace a peace founded on love and justice.”

He also condemned leaders spending billions to fund war while education, health and welfare of citizens suffer.

He said, “A peace that is unarmed, that is, not based on fear, threats or weapons, and at the same time disarming, because it is capable of resolving conflicts, opening hearts and generating trust, empathy and hope.”

Last year, Mr Biya, 92, won his eighth term in office thus extending his firm grip on power in Cameroon until 2032.