“Stop obstacles to peace”: Apostolic Nuncio at Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage in Cameroonian Diocese

“I have to be humble before God. I have to be humble before my brother Bishops. We all must be humble before each other in order to be able to understand each other,” Archbishop Bettencourt said.

The member of the Clergy of Canada’s Ottawa-Cornwall Archdiocese emphasized that violence has no place in the life of a Christian, saying, “Violence is not justified today, which is Wednesday, or Thursday, or Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, or Monday, or Tuesday. It doesn't matter what day of the week it is, because every day is a creation of God.”  

Cameroon’s English-speaking regions plunged into conflict in 2016 after a protest by lawyers and teachers turned violent. 

An armed movement of separatists claiming independence for the so-called republic of Ambazonia emerged following the government’s crackdown on protesters. 

School boycotts have become common in these areas, as have enforced moratoriums on public life, resulting in what is known as "ghost towns".

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In the far north, attacks by Nigeria’s Boko Haram fundamentalist sect have reportedly caused more than 320,000 people to flee the region.

The August 14 pilgrimage was an opportunity for the people of God to reflect and pray for peace in the world and in Cameroon in particular.

The event started with a peace procession, followed by the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass.

In his homily during the Eucharistic celebration, the Local Ordinary of Bafoussam, Bishop Paul Lontsié-Keuné challenged Christians to make individual and collective efforts to be ambassadors of peace wherever they find themselves.

Bishop Lontsié-Keuné encouraged Christians to “do everything necessary to register and vote in the 2025 presidential elections for the candidate they believe will bring peace to Cameroon.”

He said that this act would “promote social justice in a country where many live in fear due to kidnappings, the rise of hate speech, tribalism, and other challenges.”

The Cameroonian Catholic Bishop urged the faithful to “trust in the saving grace of God, not to succumb to fear, and to strive for unity and fraternity while rejecting all forms of tribalism and division among them.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.