Pope Leo XIV condemned “a handful of tyrants” ravaging the world with war, urging a shift in global spending from weapons to healthcare and education. The pontiff delivered the message during a visit to Cameroon’s conflict-ridden west, and continued his tour with a stop in Bamenda, the capital of the Northwest Region.
The Pope called for a “decisive change of course” away from conflict and exploitation, appealing to Cameroon’s leaders to examine their “conscience” and address corruption and rights abuses. He specifically criticized those who manipulate religion “for their own military, economic or political gain.”
These remarks come amid escalating tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly attacked the pontiff. Pope Leo also admonished those waging war in the name of God, and decried leaders who spend “billions on wars,” while urging resistance to “the whims of the rich and powerful.”