Cameroonian political analyst Aristide Mono has raised questions about the nature of the relationship between the Vatican and Paul Biya's government, ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Cameroon in April 2026.
Mono, known for his incisive political analysis on the show "Droit de réponse" on Equinoxe Tv, questioned what could justify a close relationship between the Vatican and a regime he describes as "not recommendable". He stated: "The Vatican will tell us what it is doing with Paul Biya's regime, because you cannot allow yourself so many associations with people who are inadvisable, not recommendable".
To illustrate his unease, Mono drew a striking comparison: "Imagine: a bishop or a priest, for 44 years, continues to visit a gang leader in a village, in a town. Every time, he is seen sharing beer with dealers, drug sellers, sellers of kior [hard drug]. One wonders... even if he wants to follow the logic that Jesus came for sinners, at some point, we will still ask questions," he added.
Pope Leo XIV's visit to Cameroon is scheduled from April 15 to 18, 2026. He will visit Yaoundé, Douala and Bamenda. This visit is part of a broader African tour that will also take him to Algeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
Pope Leo XIV will be the third sovereign pontiff to visit Cameroon, after John Paul II in 1985 and 1995, and Benedict XVI in 2009. This visit comes amid ongoing political and security tensions in Cameroon. The disputed presidential election of October 2025, as well as the separatist conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions, contribute to a climate of crisis.
The Archbishop of Bamenda, Andrew Nkea, said that the Pope would come "as an ambassador of peace and an apostle of reconciliation". The Pope's presence in Bamenda, the epicenter of the Anglophone crisis, carries strong symbolic importance.
The relations between Cameroon and the Vatican are long-standing, with a spiritual and diplomatic partnership established since 1966. Pope Leo XIV's visit could be an opportunity to strengthen these ties, but Aristide Mono's questions highlight the challenges and complexities of this relationship.
Beyond the religious aspects, this papal visit is seen by some as a potential catalyst for peace, national cohesion and democratic consolidation in the country.
