Vatican

OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters

Africa

‘We can always begin anew’: Pope Leo leads peace meeting in Cameroon’s conflict zone

Pope Leo led a historic peace meeting on April 16 in Cameroon’s northwest city of Bamenda, a region marred by years of separatist violence. “This is the moment to change, to transform the story of this country,” the pope said.

• Pope Leo praises ceasefire as ‘genuine hope,’ presses for dialogue, peace

  

  By JOSEPHINE PETERSON, Catholic News Service
  Published April 9, 2026

  Pope Leo XIV welcomed the newly announced ceasefire in the Middle East as “a sign of genuine hope” after what he described as “hours of extreme tension,” while urging a return to negotiations and calling the faithful to prayer.

• At Easter Mass, Pope Leo proclaims Resurrection conquers ‘the power of death’

  

  By COURTNEY MARES, OSV News
  Published April 5, 2026

  Pope Leo XIV offered Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square Sunday proclaiming that with Christ’s resurrection “death has been conquered forever” and “no longer has power over us.”

• Good Friday liturgy underscores need to break ‘this chain’ of violence

  

  By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
  Published April 3, 2026

  A message of nonviolence and quiet endurance marked the Good Friday liturgy at the Vatican, during which the Passion of Christ offers an example of breaking the cycle of violence that continues today.