Huge crowds gathered in Cameroon as Pope Leo XIV continued his first Africa tour with a message of peace.
More than 120,000 worshippers attended an open-air Mass led by Pope Leo XIV in Douala on Friday, making it the biggest turnout so far during his 11-day visit to Africa.
The Mass was held at Japoma Stadium, where thousands of people waited for hours to see the Pope. Some worshippers reportedly camped outside overnight to secure a good position before the event began.
Arriving in the Popemobile, Pope Leo waved to cheering crowds as he entered the venue. Despite intense heat, attendees of all ages gathered for prayers, worship and his address.
During the Mass, the pontiff urged young people to reject violence, corruption and the lure of quick gains. He encouraged them to use their talents to support their communities and contribute to national progress.
“Reject every form of abuse or violence,” he said, while calling for hearts guided by compassion and service.
Many attendees said they were grateful to hear the Pope’s message, especially as Cameroon continues to face unrest in its Anglophone regions after nearly a decade of separatist conflict.
Later in the day, Pope Leo also visited St Paul Catholic Hospital as part of his pastoral schedule.
The Pope began his Africa trip earlier this week with a stop in Algeria, marking the first papal visit to the Muslim-majority nation. His next stops are Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
The Douala gathering showed the deep enthusiasm for Pope Leo’s visit and renewed hopes for peace across the region.